Photo: As kannan / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Hill Pigeon
Columba rupestris
Hill Pigeon (Columba rupestris) — Pigeons & Doves of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Hill Pigeon (Columba rupestris) is a member of the Columbidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 245 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Columbiformes
- Family Columbidae Pigeons, Doves
- Genus Columba
- Species rupestris
Quick facts
- Weight
- 245 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Columbidae
- Order
- Columbiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Hill Pigeon is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of rocky terrain, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Hill Pigeon is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Hill Pigeon (Columba rupestris) is a member of the Columbidae family, within the order Columbiformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL c, e.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 245 g, with a wing length of about 22.3 cm and a tail of around 11.3 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 11.8 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Hill Pigeon?
The Hill Pigeon is a large bird that weighs around 245 g.
Where does the Hill Pigeon live?
The Hill Pigeon is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL c, e, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Hill Pigeon belong to?
The Hill Pigeon (Columba rupestris) belongs to the Columbidae family, in the order Columbiformes.
What does the Hill Pigeon eat?
The Hill Pigeon is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Hill Pigeon migrate?
The Hill Pigeon is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Hill Pigeon endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Hill Pigeon make?
1 real field recording of the Hill Pigeon — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Hill Pigeon's range?
The Hill Pigeon has a mapped global range of about 11.8 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Meet the Columbidae
A field guide to the Columbidae family — 352 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.