SNOW PIGEON

DESCRIPTION

Its general body build is like the common rock dove with broad square tail, stout body and small head, but it averages slightly larger in size than c. livia. The whole of the neck and breast is pure white with the head contrasting sharply, being a dark blue Grey. The sexes are alike.

Habitat, Distribution and Status

A resident high alpine and mountain dwelling pigeon, which in our area is more widespread in distribution and found in more southerly latitudes than Columba rupestris. In wintertime it occasionally descends to the broader lower valleys, as low as 1500 meters.

Habits

Can be seen in small flocks in wintertime as well as in the summer and it is colonial in nesting also.

Breeding Biology

They nest in small colonies in cliffs or steep rock faces. Either in river gorges or on mountain slopes. The same site is used year after year and the nests made of stick platforms, become very fouled with droppings. The eggs are plain white and normally two in number. In captivity the incubation period is 17 to 19 days and both parents share incubation duties. Captive birds were noted to have bowing display with the hinder part of the body and tail being jerked upwards as the head bobbed forward and downward . In the wild they have a display flight similar to the rock pigeon with wing clapping and sailing on stiffly spread and slightly raised wings in the vicinity of the nest colony.