24. Snow Pigeon: (Columba leuconota) 34 cms; 3000 to 4500 mts. Sexes alike. A brown-white pigeon reminiscent of the domestic pigeon. White body and blackish head are diagnostic in overhead flight. Grey wings with three dark bars and dark tail with white subterminal band confirm identity. Living and roosting in colonies in rock cliffs and gorges, small parties feed on grassy slopes and boulder spaced to their colouration. They feed on weed seeds, barley and other cultivated grains in the vicinity of villages; green food and small roots and bulbs. Call is a repeated croak.

25. Rufous Turtle Dove: (Streptopelia orientalis) 33 cms; upto 4000 mts. Sexes alike. A large stocky, pigeon-like dove, reddish-brown in colour with scaly patterned upperparts and black barred sides of neck. Tail feathers have dove-grey tips. A ground feeding dove. Small flocks feeding on stubble ground on weed seeds and cultivated grain and green shoots. Commonly heard at hill-stations with mournful "goor-goor".

26. Spotted Dove: (Streptopelia chinensis) 30 cms; upto 2400 mts. Sexes alike. A pinkish and grey small dove spotted with white and conspicuous black and white 'checks' at base of neck. Belly and vent are white. Pairs or small parties forage for grains and seeds in cultivation, open deciduous forest-groves and gardens. Call is a pleasant and soft "krukroo kukroo".     

27. Emerald Dove: (Chalcophaps indica) Hindi name: Raj Ghuggi; 27 cms; upto 1800 mts. Sexes similar but female has less white on forehead and supercilia. A small but beautiful dove. Brownish-pink with brilliant gold-emerald green upper parts. Neck and crown are grey with prominent white forehead and brows. It has a white-grey patch on wing shoulders. One sees these birds singly or in pairs in clearings, tea gardens and scrub jungle. Food consists of grain, seeds, fallen berries and fruit seeds. Has been observed feeding on fallen apples and their seeds. The call is a haunting "hoon" repeated at intervals. The male chases the female with head lowered, uttering its call while the female often raises one wing (in defense ?).

28. Alexandrine Parakeet: (Psittacula eupatria) Hindi name: Pahari Tota; 53 cms; upto 1600 mts. A large, bright green parakeet with a bright red hooked bill and a conspicuous deep red patch on wing shoulders. The male has a prominent pink 'collar' on hind neck and a broad black band from the lower mandible joins it. The female lacks the collar and band. Three to four birds or small flocks clamber on fruit trees, wastefully destroying and eating ripe and half ripe fruit, causing considerable damage to orchards and crops, where they destroy unripe grain as well. Its call is a loud, high-pitched scream. In captivity, it learns a few words of human speech.

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