First-ever snow pigeon breeding population spotted in Xinjiang's Hotan Prefecture

Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Zhao Mei, Correspondent Chen Wenjie) news: On August 17, 2026, Rezak Aisan, a birdwatching enthusiast from Xinjiang, encountered snow pigeon fledglings and their nest while conducting a bird survey at the Buqiong Songbailin scenic spot in Pishan County, Hotan Prefecture, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The record was confirmed by Professor Ma Ming, a researcher at the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, as the first observation of a breeding population of snow pigeons in the Hotan Prefecture, providing valuable physical evidence for biodiversity research in the Kunlun Mountains.

Photo shows a snow pigeon spotted at Buqiong Songbailin scenic spot in Pishan County, Hotan Prefecture, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on August 17, 2026. (Photo by Rezak Aisan)

That day, while installing an infrared camera on a cliff at an altitude of over 3,000 meters in the scenic area, Rezak Aisan was drawn by an unusual call coming from the cliff face. Following the sound, he spotted two uniquely marked pigeons moving along the rock face. "At first I thought they were domestic pigeons, but on closer look, they were slightly smaller and had different plumage — dark gray on the head and back, pure white on the belly, with fluffy down still on their heads, making them look quite adorable," he said. Drawing on years of birdwatching experience, he quickly identified the two fledglings as snow pigeons (Columba leuconota). "Snow pigeons usually inhabit high-altitude, cold cliffs and are rarely seen," he added. During subsequent observation and filming, he discovered a rocky crevice near the fledglings on a steep cliff face, lined with pine and cypress branches and dry grass, which he speculated was the snow pigeon's nest.

Photo shows the fledgling of snow pigeons. (Photo by Rezak Aisan)

Professor Ma Ming of the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, confirmed that the two fledglings were indeed snow pigeons after reviewing the photographs taken by Rezak Aisan. He explained that the snow pigeon is a plateau-endemic species, mainly distributed across the Pamir Plateau and the Kunlun Mountains, typically inhabiting high mountain precipices at elevations ranging from 2,000 to 5,200 meters, and can also be found in bare-rock river valleys and on cliffs in high-altitude areas.

"Adult snow pigeons and flocks have been recorded in some mountainous areas of southern Xinjiang before, but fledglings and breeding groups have rarely been observed. The breeding-season fledglings found in the Hotan Prefecture this time are likely the first record for this region," Ma said. He noted that this discovery suggests the area may be a stable breeding ground for snow pigeons. It not only provides rare first-hand material for studying the species' breeding habits and behavior, but also adds new empirical evidence for biodiversity research in the Kunlun Mountains.

Photo shows a rocky crevice on a steep cliff face. (Photo by Rezak Aisan)

The snow pigeon is a bird of the genus Columba in the family Columbidae, order Columbiformes. Its breeding season typically runs from April to July, and it often nests in rock crevices on cliffs. It feeds on grass seeds, plant seeds, and berries on the plateau. The species is listed in China's List of Terrestrial Wildlife under State Protection that are Beneficial or of Important Economic or Scientific Value (commonly known as the "Three-Haves" protected species). The observation site is located in a river valley deep in the Kunlun Mountains, at an average elevation of about 3,100 meters, with good vegetation cover and abundant food resources, indicating that the local ecological environment is suitable for snow pigeon inhabitation.

In recent years, Hotan has continuously advanced ecological protection and wildlife conservation efforts, steadily strengthening the ecological security barrier of the Kunlun Mountains, and creating stable habitats and breeding spaces for various wildlife species. The discovery of this breeding population of snow pigeons also serves, from one perspective, as evidence of the positive outcomes achieved in regional ecological protection.

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