Snow Pigeon vs Afep Pigeon

Columba leuconota compared with Columba unicincta

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Snow Pigeon Afep Pigeon
Scientific Name Columba leuconota Columba unicincta
Order Columbiformes Columbiformes
Family Columbidae Columbidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length
Wingspan 46.3 cm (18.2 in) 42.2 cm (16.6 in)
Weight 284.75 g (10.04 oz) 401.5 g (14.16 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size 2 1
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

None

Snow Pigeon only

None

Afep Pigeon only

Song & Call Comparison

Snow Pigeon

Song

Soft, gentle cooing call; pure notes with mild quality carrying across open rocky highland. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.

Afep Pigeon

Song

Deep, resonant cooing; rich notes with carrying quality through dense humid African forest. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Snow Pigeon

Least Concern

Afep Pigeon

How to Tell Them Apart

Snow Pigeon

Plumage

Snow Pigeon: white head; dark collar; brown back; white tail with dark bar; white wings; Himalayan high-altitude species

Afep Pigeon

Plumage

Afep Pigeon: pale gray; white neck gloss; dark flight feathers; large size; Central African rainforest pigeon; pale overall

About These Birds

Snow Pigeon

Snow Pigeon (Columba leuconota) — 34–38 cm. White head and nape contrast with dark brown back; white rump; black tail terminal band; pinkish underparts. Inhabits Himalayan valleys and cliffs from Pakistan to southwestern China at 2,000–5,500 m. Granivore; nests on cliff ledges; descends to lower elevations in winter.

Afep Pigeon

Afep Pigeon (Columba unicincta) — 36–40 cm. Large; dark grey; single narrow black ring on hindneck; pale grey rump. Inhabits canopy of rainforest in West and Central Africa. Frugivore; feeds on forest fruits. Poorly known; an upper-canopy species seldom studied at close range.

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