Hill Pigeon

The hill pigeon, or eastern rock dove, is a stout-bodied pigeon similar in size and general appearance to the rock dove but mainly told from it by a broad white band across a black tail. Other differences are a paler mantle and upper wings and a white patch on the back. It frequents open rugged country from about 1,500 to 6,100 m above sea level (Wikipedia, general species account).

It is gregarious throughout the year and feeds in flocks in terraced, cultivated fields. It nests in dense colonies on cliffs, gorges and rocky outcrops, on a platform of twigs or plant stems, generally laying two eggs; in Tibet nests are often placed in houses, inhabited or empty, or in holes in walls. The cached account gives detail on Tajikistan and Tibet rather than India. SoIB 2023 rates it a Low conservation priority: a resident of alpine and cold desert with a Moderate range and insufficient data on trends (Wikipedia, general species account; SoIB 2023).