There are Pigeons - and Pigeons
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (340278)
Rockingham, Australia
June 26, 2016 7:55am CST
I'm not a great lover of pigeons. I think they are messy creatures in general. But there is more to pigeons than you might expect. For instance, there are racing and fancy pigeons. Standards and names differ slightly from country to country but the European list of fancy pigeons numbers around 500 breeds. These are grouped into various categories.
The photo shows a fantail pigeon. In Australia, it is one of the Asian feather and voice group. Most pigeons have 12 to 14 feathers in the tail but the fantail has 30 to 40. The tail is spread in a fan, the head tipped back and the chest pushed forward. Some are known as lace or silky fantails due to a mutation to the feathers which give a lace effect to the plumage. There is also a great variety in colour and pattern. It seems that, just like dogs and cats, pigeons appear in a few shapes and colours.
The photo is by jim gifford [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
38 people like this
36 responses
@toniganzon (72281)
• Philippines
27 Jun 16
When I was a kid I could see a lot of pigeons flying everywhere in our town. I could see them on electrical wirings, on the trees, just everywhere. But nowadays, they are nowhere to be found.
4 people like this
@dpk262006 (58676)
• Delhi, India
27 Jun 16
@toniganzon - Massive urbanisation, big towers/buildings, cell phone towers and lack of greenery and space have killed those pigeons, which you used to see in the past.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340278)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Jun 16
@dpk262006 There were plenty in England, Scotland and Ireland when we were there.
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@marguicha (223133)
• Chile
26 Jun 16
I don´t like pigeons as they can become a pest in cities and destroy a lot. But if they were kept in their places, they can do a lot of good.
4 people like this
@koopharper (7601)
• Canada
26 Jun 16
My daughter and I used to keep pigeons. Any type of bird is messy in large numbers. Most pigeon breeds come from the Rock Dove. The only natural coloration is the basic blue bars as it is called. Everything else is from humans crossbreeding them.
4 people like this
@koopharper (7601)
• Canada
27 Jun 16
@JudyEv One cool thing about pigeons. Almost all species that have been bred to all different colours and shapes will within a few generations revert to their original form if returned to the wild. Pigeons for some odd reason maintain some of those features almost indefinitely. For example the checkered coloration is common in wild birds in most city dwelling flocks.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (340278)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Jun 16
@koopharper This is cool. I hadn't heard of that aspect.
2 people like this
@Mike197602 (15505)
• United Kingdom
26 Jun 16
I don't know much about pigeons except I've had them for dinner a few times and sort of liked them.
I think they would have been wood pigeons but I'm not sure.
4 people like this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
26 Jun 16
Near our home I never see any pigeons but when ever we go into a city the typical gray and white ones are always in attendance.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
27 Jun 16
@JudyEv yah pigeon dodo everywhere!! lol
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
26 Jun 16
A pigeon is a pigeon is a pigeon - even Morning Doves are pigeons. The one in your photo is a nice looking pigeon!
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
27 Jun 16
@JudyEv He sure is a study guy!
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@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
27 Jun 16
I had no idea there was a pigeon that looked that cool
2 people like this
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
26 Jun 16
Here they are for the most part gray and white with a little black, they flock and poop everywhere. They call the squab when they are eaten . I have not ate one.
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
26 Jun 16
I only know of the regular old gray pigeons that hang out downtown, waiting for someone to drop a hot dog bun or something.
2 people like this
@topffer (42156)
• France
26 Jun 16
The one on the photo is beautiful. I like turtledoves, but I am not friend with pigeons : they are a lot here and are causing damages to the buildings. We are not allowed to feed both turtledoves and pigeons, but I make an exception for turtledoves
.
.1 person likes this
@topffer (42156)
• France
27 Jun 16
@JudyEv It is also a bit our fault : in the past there were dovecotes in cities, and they were doing less damages. Pigeons are preferring to find a ready made pigeon hole for their nest than to build it and they have a good reason : they are the worst nest masons that I know among birds, and when they try to build a nest in a tree, it often falls
. My city has installed a few dovecotes in public parks and they have occupied them immediately. It is a good environmental solution, as they can be caught easily and their number limited.
. My city has installed a few dovecotes in public parks and they have occupied them immediately. It is a good environmental solution, as they can be caught easily and their number limited.1 person likes this
@Drosophila (16571)
• Ireland
27 Jun 16
@JudyEv tried a dish in France... gorgeous!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340278)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Jun 16
@Drosophila There are some interesting dishes out there, aren't there?
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@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
27 Jun 16
noperz, no fancy pigeons like that 'round these parts, lol. most interestin', 're most'f those adorned'n such a fashion due to mankind breedin' 'em fer such? kinda like most critters, they seem intent'n breedin' fer more'n more flamboyance.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
28 Jun 16
@JudyEv so true, ms. judy. jest look't what they've done to the american quarter horse :( i'd a friend who bought a paint horse some years back. the poor equine'd "jello" listed's the sire - 4 times'n its papers. he was a purty chestnut paint...with weak bones, a dull mind 'n horrid hooves.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340278)
• Rockingham, Australia
28 Jun 16
@crazyhorseladycx I heard - but can't quite believe it - that Arabians in halter classes in the US aren't trotted out because their bones are so fine, they could break down.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
26 Jun 16
That is a far cry from our dirty plain old pigeons. That fellow is a strutter.
2 people like this
