Snow Pigeon

Columba leuconota (Vigors, 1831)

		adult juvenile
2015-04-19 Moskovskaya oblast, Voskresenskiy r-on 2017-09-02 gorodskoe poselenie Kubinka, Odintsovskiy rayon, Moskovskaya oblast, Russia	© Vadim Mikhaylin © Vadim Mikhaylin

Description

Snow Pigeon looks similar to Hill Pigeon, but differs from it and other Pigeons of Kyrgyzstan by presence of white color in plumage. White all of underparts and upperparts from neck to uppertail and dark wings, head, and tail well indicate Snow Pigeon in flight not only from other species of Pigeons, but from all other birds of highlands. There is white tail band of shape of blunt angle to the base of tail. (Meklenburtsev, 1951; Ivanov, 1969)

Distribution

First record in Turestan and generally to Russian Empire was from collection of Barei from Tengizbai and Karakazyk passes, western part of Alai ridge (Shtoltsman, 1897). Then Snow Pigeon was found in Kshemish river in eastern part of Turkestan ridge (Zarudny, 1910). Next record was from valley of Pandj river between Khorog and Ishkashim (Zarudny, 1915). The last observation was in Ile Alatau ridge near Almaty where little flock of three birds was observed (Shtegman, 1948).

Biology

Biology of this species in Turkestan is ablsolutely unknown, due to very small number of this bird in region.

References

Птицы Советского Союза. Москва, 1951, Птицы России и сопредельных регионов.