Hill Pigeon Columba rupestris rupestris is slightly darker than turkestanica, particularly on the belly, which in turkestanica can be whitish. Even in rupestris, belly paler than Rock Dove (Feral Pigeon). In China, nominate resident Heilongjiang to western Sichuan, Qinghai, and eastern Tibet; turkestanica western Xinjiang and western Tibet. Photo: rupestris, Kanda Gorge (32.291578, 96.548437), Qinghai, China, elev. 3920 m (12,850 ft.), July. (Craig Brelsford)Hill Pigeon further distinguished from Rock Dove by whitish subterminal band on tail. Photo: rupestris, Qinghai Lake (36.564942, 100.543553), Qinghai, elev. 3220 m (10,550 ft.), July. (Craig Brelsford)Hill Pigeon in typical strong, direct flight. The species is most at home among cliffs and gorges but can frequent towns and farmsteads. Photo: rupestris, Kanda Nunnery (32.291387, 96.512782), Qinghai, elev. 3890 m (12,770 ft.), August. (Craig Brelsford)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
MacKinnon, John. Guide to the Birds of China. Oxford University Press, 2022.
Baptista, L. F., P. W. Trail and H. M. Horblit. Family Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves). P. 113 in: del Hoyo, J., A. Elliot, and J. Sargatal, eds. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 4. Sandgrouse to Cuckoos. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain, 1997.
