Fancy pigeon

Fancy pigeons are special birds.

People breed them to look unique. They can have many colors. Some have different shapes too.

People show them in big contests. They can win prizes for being pretty. Some birds can even make funny sounds. Others can fly in loops. One group of birds can puff out their chests.

These birds are very different from wild ones. There are many kinds of fancy pigeons.

Fancy pigeons are special types of domestic birds.

They come from the wild rock dove. People breed them for many reasons. They want certain colors or shapes. Some birds have unique ways of acting. There are about 800 known breeds. Some say there are 1,100 breeds in the world.

Many people show these birds in contests. They compete for prizes at fairs. One huge show in Germany had over 33,500 pigeons.

Different groups have different traits. Asian pigeons may have long feathers. They might also have funny voices. Some pigeons can puff out their crops. A crop is a part of the throat. Other groups are good at flying. Some were even bred for meat.

A man named Charles Darwin studied these birds. He used them to learn about how species change over time. This helped him with his big ideas about nature.

Fancy pigeons are many different kinds of domestic birds.

They all come from the wild rock dove. People called fanciers breed them for many special traits. They might look for a certain size or shape. They might want a specific color or behavior.

There are about 800 known pigeon breeds. Some say there are 1,100 regional varieties in the world. The European list alone names about 500 breeds. No other domestic animal has many different forms and colors like this.

These birds are often grouped by how they look or act.

Some groups come from Asia and have long feathers. These birds might even have a trumpeting or laughing voice. Other pigeons come from Germany and are called German Toys. Some have short beaks and reversed feathers on their chests. These are called frills.

Other groups were made for special skills. Some can inflate their crops, which is a part of the throat. Others are very good at flying or finding their way home.

Famous scientists have studied these birds for a long time.

Charles Darwin was one of them. He crossbred fancy pigeons like the ice pigeon. He did this to study how things change within a species. This work happened three years before his book, On the Origin of Species. The many different types of pigeons helped him develop his ideas on evolution. His interest in these birds played a major role in his science.

People show these birds at many big events.

In England, groups like the Philoperisteron Society held annual shows in the mid-1800s. The largest show is the German National Pigeon Show in Nuremberg. In 2006, that show had over 33,500 pigeons. In the United States, there are many pigeon clubs. The National Young Bird Show is held in Louisville, Kentucky, every October. Another big show is the Grand National, which usually happens in January.

Showing pigeons is a big hobby for many people.

Some shows are very large and attract many visitors. One annual show in Blackpool is run by the Royal Pigeon Racing Association. About 25,000 people attend this event. It makes around £80,000 in profit, which goes to charity.

In Australia, a show in 2008 had hundreds of pigeons. People compete against each other for prizes at these fairs. It is a way for fanciers to share their birds with the world.

Fancy pigeons are diverse breeds of domestic birds.

They all descend from the wild rock dove, known scientifically as Columba livia. Pigeon fanciers are people who breed these birds for specific traits. They select for unique sizes, shapes, colors, or behaviors. This process has created an incredible variety of forms.

There are roughly 800 recognized pigeon breeds globally. Some estimates suggest there are 1,100 regional varieties. The European list alone includes about 500 different breeds. No other domestic animal shows such extreme variety in color and form.

Breeders organize these pigeons into several major families. One group is the Asian feather and voice pigeons.

These breeds originated in Asia and feature extensive feathering. Some varieties are even cultivated for unique vocalizations, such as trumpeting or laughing. Another large group includes German Toys.

Most of these pigeons originate in Germany. They offer a wide selection of markings and colors. This group includes varieties like the Archangel and the Danish Suabian.

Other families are defined by physical structures like beaks or feathers. The Frills and Owls group is very distinct.

These pigeons are noted for having short beaks. The term "frill" refers to reversed feathering on the bird's chest. This group includes the African Owl and the Chinese Owl. Another group, the Pouters and Croppers, is defined by a unique ability.

These birds can inflate their crops, which are parts of the throat. Examples include the Pigmy Pouter and the English Pouter.

Some pigeons are bred for specific physical skills or utility. The Homing and Hen pigeons were developed for their homing ability.

This group includes show-type racing pigeons like the German Beauty Homer. The Flying Tumblers and Highfliers are also specialized.

These birds can be shown for beauty or used in flying competitions. They retain acrobatic or sporting abilities. Finally, Utility pigeons were originally developed as sources of meat.

This group includes the Carneau and the King pigeon.

History shows that these birds have influenced major scientific ideas. Charles Darwin was a famous scientist who studied fancy pigeons.

He crossbred certain varieties, such as the ice pigeon. He wanted to study variation within a species. This research took place three years before he published On the Origin of Species. The massive variations in pigeon breeds helped him develop his theories on evolution. His work with these birds played a major role in his scientific discoveries.

Today, pigeon showing is a global activity with large-scale events. In the United States, many clubs sponsor shows. The National Young Bird Show is held every October in Louisville, Kentucky. The Grand National is another major event, usually held in January. In England, the Philoperisteron Society held annual shows during the mid-1800s. The London Columbarian Society was also active during that time. These clubs help maintain the standards for different breeds.

Exhibitions can attract huge crowds and generate significant resources. The German National Pigeon Show in Nuremberg is the largest in the world. At its 2006 show, there were over 33,500 pigeons on display. In Blackpool, an annual show is run by the Royal Pigeon Racing Association.

This event attracts about 25,000 people every year. It generates around £80,000 in profit. All of that money is donated to charity. These shows allow fanciers to compete for prizes and celebrate their birds.