Hill Pigeon vs Speckled Pigeon

Hill Pigeon

Columba rupestris

Medium245 gRocky

The hill pigeon is a stout-bodied pigeon, similar in size and general appearance to the rock dove (Columba livia) but mainly differentiated by its tail pattern which consists of a broad, white tail-band across the black tail. Other differences include a paler mantle and upper wings and a white patch on the back. In flight, the tail pattern is similar to the snow pigeon (Columba leuconota), but lacks the contrast between the head and neck in that species.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Dmitry Kulakov · CC BY 4.0

Speckled Pigeon

Columba guinea

Large352 gShrubland

It is a medium-sized pigeon, at 32–35 cm in length similar in size to rock dove and stock dove. Its back and wings are rufous, the latter heavily speckled with white spots. The rest of the upperparts and underparts are blue-grey, and the head is grey with red patches of bare skin around the eye. The neck is brownish, streaked with white, and the legs are red. The sexes are similar, but immatures are browner than adults and lack the red eye patches. The call is a loud doo-doo-doo.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Kjeuring · CC BY 3.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Hill Pigeon and Speckled Pigeon.