PIGEONS - EVERYTHING THERE IS TO KNOW ABOUT THE PIGEON
Table of Contents
- The Facts
- Domestication of the Rock Dove
- The Pigeon as an Icon and Symbol
- The Pigeon as a Messenger
- The Pigeon as a Source of Food
- The Pigeon in Wartime
- Pigeons for Sport
- Fancy Breeds of Pigeons
- Common Varieties of Pigeons (UK)
- What does the future hold for the feral pigeon?
- So what is the answer?
Latin Name: Columba livia (‘dove’ or ‘bird of leaden or blue-grey colour’).
Common Names: Pigeon, dove, blue rock pigeon, rock dove, wild rock pigeon, rock pigeon, feral pigeon.
Derivation: The word ‘pigeon’ is derived from the Latin word ‘pipio’, meaning ‘young cheeping bird’. The word ‘dove’ is of Norse origin and first appeared in the 14th century as ‘dova’ or ‘douve’.
Bird Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbidae (includes 315 different species)
Subspecies: C. l. livia, C. l. atlantis, C. l. canariensis, C. l. gymnocyclus, C. l. targia, C. l. nigricans, C. l. dakhlae, C. l. schimperi, C. l. intermedia, C. l. palaestinae, C. l. gaddi, C. l. neglecta
Varieties: 350 recorded varieties.
Most Common: Feral Pigeon - 10-15 million in Europe.
Origin: Europe, North Africa and Asia.
Habitat: The wild pigeon is found in coastal areas and the feral pigeon is found almost exclusively in areas of human habitation.
Distribution: Worldwide except Sahara Desert, Antarctica and the high Arctic. European population estimated at between 17 and 28 million birds.
Description (adult of the nominate subspecies of the rock pigeon):
- 32-37 cm long
- 64-72 cm wingspan
- Dark bluish-grey head, neck and chest with glossy greenish and reddish-purple iridescence around the neck and wing feathers
- Orange or red iris with pale inner ring (adult) or brown or greyish brown (juveniles)
- Black bill with off-white cere
- Red feet and legs
- Distinctive twin black wing bars
- White lower back feathers
Reproduction:
- Breeds all year round with peak breeding periods in spring and summer
- All columbiformes are monogamous (mate for life)
- Wild birds breed on coastal cliffs and some inland cliffs
- Feral birds breed on or in buildings, usually in urban areas
- Flimsy nest built on rocky shelf (wild) or accessible ledge on a building or in the roof void of a building (feral)
- Two white eggs that are incubated by both parents for 17-19 days
- The squab (chick) has yellow down and a pink bill
- Squabs are fed on ‘crop milk’ by both parents
- Fledging period is approximately 30 days depending on time of year
- Pigeons can breed at 6 months of age
![Pigeon nest and 2 eggs Pigeon nest and 2 eggs](assets/images_about/Rock dove nest 2 eggs.jpg)
Pigeon nest and 2 eggs
![Pigeon squab and egg Pigeon squab and egg](assets/images_about/Rock Dove nestling and egg.jpg)
Pigeon squab and egg
![Adult pigeon on nest Adult pigeon on nest](assets/images_about/Pigeon on eggs.jpg)
Adult pigeon on nest
![Pigeon egg Pigeon egg](assets/images_about/Rock dove egg.jpg)
Pigeon egg
![Pigeon squabs day 1 Pigeon squabs day 1](assets/images_about/Pigeon squab day 1 hatching.jpg)
Pigeon squab 1 day
![Pigeon squabs day 1 Pigeon squabs day 1](assets/images_about/Pigeon squab day 1.jpg)
Pigeon squab 1 day
![Pigeon squab 3 days Pigeon squab 3 days](assets/images_about/Pigeon squab 3 days old.jpg)
Pigeon squab 3 days
![Pigeon squab 3 days Pigeon squab 3 days](assets/images_about/Pigeon squab 3 days old 2.jpg)
Pigeon squab 3 days
![Pigeon squab 5 days Pigeon squab 5 days](assets/images_about/pigeon squab 5.jpg)
Pigeon squab 5 days
![Pigeon squabs 8 days Pigeon squabs 8 days](assets/images_about/Pigeon squab 8 days old.jpg)
Pigeon squab 8 days
![Pigeon squabs 8 days Pigeon squabs 8 days](assets/images_about/Pigeon squab 8 days old 2.jpg)
Pigeon squab 8 days
Pigeon squab 8 days
Pigeon squabs 10 days
Pigeon squab 14 days
![Pigeon squab 14 days Pigeon squab 14 days](assets/images_about/Pigeon squab wing 14 days old.jpg)
Pigeon squab 14 days
![Pigeon squab 16 days Pigeon squab 16 days](assets/images_about/Pigeon squab 16 days old 2.jpg)
Pigeon squab 16 days
![Pigeon squab 16 days Pigeon squab 16 days](assets/images_about/Pigeon squab 16 days old.jpg)
Pigeon squab 16 days
![Juvenile pigeons in nest Juvenile pigeons in nest](assets/images_about/juvenile pigeons in nest.jpg)
Juvenile pigeons in nest
![Juvenile pigeons in nest Juvenile pigeons in nest](assets/images_about/juvenile pigeons 1.jpg)
Juvenile pigeons in nest
![Juvenile pigeon with mother Juvenile pigeon with mother](assets/images_about/juvenile with mother.jpg)
Juvenile pigeon with mother
![Fledged juvenile pigeon Fledged juvenile pigeon](assets/images_about/Juvenile pigeon 2.jpg)
Fledged juvenile pigeon
![Fledged juvenile pigeon Fledged juvenile pigeon](assets/images_about/Juvenile pigeon 3.jpg)
Fledged juvenile pigeon
Diet: Seeds form the major component of the diet, but it varies greatly according to species. Some ground feeding species (granivorous species) eat fruit and take insects and worms. One species, the Atoll Fruit Dove, has adapted to taking insects and small reptiles. The feral pigeon found in urban areas exists exclusively on a diet of seed (normally from human sources) and human refuse, such as fast food waste. Wood pigeons have a varied diet which includes vegetables and berries.
Life Expectancy: Varies greatly from 3-5 years through to 15 years dependent on many factors, including natural predation and human interference.
![Peregrine Falcon Peregrine Falcon](assets/images_about/peregrine falcon 1.jpg)
Peregrine Falcon
Predation: The wild pigeon is predated upon, almost exclusively, by the peregrine falcon, a bird that is also found living and breeding in coastal regions. The sparrowhawk may also predate on the wild pigeon. The feral pigeon has few if any natural predators, with man being the main threat to the bird in areas of human habitation.
Characteristics and Attributes:
- Pigeons can fly at altitudes of 6000 feet or more
- Pigeons can fly at average speeds of up to 77.6 mph but have been recorded flying at 92.5 mph
- Pigeons can fly between 600 and 700 miles in a single day, with the longest recorded flight in the 19th century taking 55 days between Africa and England and covering 7000 miles
- Pigeons are thought to navigate by sensing the earth’s magnetic field and using the sun for direction. Other theories include the use of roads and even low frequency seismic waves to find their way home
- Pigeons (and all the columbidae family) drink by sucking water and using their beaks like straws. Most birds sip water and then throw their head back to swallow
- Pigeons, like humans, can see in colour, but unlike humans they can also see ultraviolet light, a part of the spectrum that humans cannot see. As a result, pigeons are often used in search and rescue missions at sea because of this unique sense combined with excellent all-round vision
- Pigeons have been found to pass the ‘mirror test’, the ability to recognise its own reflection in a mirror. The pigeon is one of only 6 species, and the only non-mammal, to have this ability
- Pigeons are highly intelligent and can recognise all 26 letters of the alphabet as well as being able to conceptualise. Pigeons can differentiate between photographs and even two different human beings in a single photograph.
Domestication of the Rock Dove:
Early wall painting of man with dove
Goddess Ninhursag
Ancient Egyptian tomb 2950 BC
King Rameses 111 King Rameses 111
Later, in the 19th century, the pigeon was used for commercial purposes, carrying messages for financial institutions and news agencies in Europe and even providing an airmail service in New Zealand. Carrier Pigeons - World War 1
Dedicated pigeon houses, or dovecotes, were believed to have existed in very early times in southern Palestine and later in Egypt in 44 BC. Ancient Egyptian pigeon house 44 AD
The dovecote has played an essential role in the domestication of the pigeon throughout history, with facilities ranging from extremely crude early examples in the form of basic clay pots through to highly ornate detached buildings housing many thousands of birds in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Dovecote, Dieppe, France
The pigeon was domesticated not only for its ability to return home and as a source of food and by-products, but also for the purposes of sport. Man has found many sporting uses for the pigeon throughout history, with the earliest known example being the sport of Triganieri. It is unclear when this ancient sport first started, but the early Greeks and Romans are believed to have participated in it. Falconry in the 17th century
Falconry
Pigeon Cage Trap
Pigeon Transporter Champion Racing Pigeon Auction
Pigeon, ‘Triumph’
The Pigeon as an Icon and Symbol:
Since its domestication many thousands of years ago, the pigeon has been revered by many religions, including Hindu, Islam, Christian and Sikh. Although Neolithic man (circa 8500 BC onwards) undoubtedly domesticated the rock dove, there is little indication that the bird was used for anything but food.
Ancient Persian Dovecote
Excavations of tombs dating back to 1600 BC at Mycenae in southern Greece revealed two ornaments that depict doves. Greek ruins at Mycenae 1600 BC King Rameses 111
The pigeon was used as a sacrifice in early history, with King Rameses III, King of Egypt, sacrificing 57,000 pigeons to the god Ammon at Thebes in 1100 BC.
Pigeons in Judaism and Christianity
Noah and the Ark Noah and Dove of Peace Babylonian Talmud Texts
Pigeons and the Romans
Roman Mosaic 3rd Century AD Hadrian’s Villa
Pigeons and Islam
Prophet Mohammed Prophet Mohammed Pigeons in Flight at Mosque Pigeons Waiting Outside
Depicted with Dove
Depicted
with Dove
21st Century Mosque
to be Fed
Pigeons and Hinduism
The Hindu religion has also revered the dove throughout history, with the bird being mentioned as far back as 1500-1200 BC in the Rig Veda, an ancient hymn dedicated to the Aryan Deities.![Rigveda Manuscript Rigveda Manuscript](assets/images_about/Rigveda manuscript.jpg)
Rigveda Manuscript
There are countless illustrations of the pigeon throughout Hindu history, depicted with various deities.![Pigeon feeding in India Pigeon feeding in India](assets/images_about/Pigeon feeding in India.jpg)
Pigeon Feeding in India
The pigeon is still revered today, with huge flocks of pigeons being fed on a daily basis in temples throughout India, in many towns and cities in the UK and many other European cities.Pigeons and Sikhism
Guru Gobind Singh Guru Gobind Singh with Dove
The feral pigeon that is directly descended from the domesticated rock dove is now perceived as being a pest and a nuisance in towns and cities throughout the world, and yet the bird is still revered in the 21st century. Pigeons Being Fed
at Temple
The Pigeon as a Messenger:
The pigeon is probably best known for its ability to return ‘home’ from long distances and has therefore been used extensively throughout history as a messenger, dating as far back as 2500 BC and continuing into the 21st century. The first historical mention of the pigeon being used to carry messages was in the city of Sumer in southern Mesopotamia in 2500 BC. The ruler of the city released two doves to carry the news of the relief of the city from its warring neighbours.
Olympic Statue to Ruins of Olympic Stadium
God Zeus 776 BC
at Olympia
Greek Geographer Julius Caesar Hannibal Crossing the Alps
Strabo
In the 12th century AD Sultan Nur-ed-din built pigeon lofts and dovecotes in the cities of Cairo and Damascus, where pigeons were used to carry messages from Egypt to cities as far away as Baghdad in modern day Iraq. This extensive system of communication, using pigeons to link cities hundreds of miles apart, is considered to be the first organised pigeon messaging service. King Saladin of Egypt Sultan Saladin 1174-1193
In the early 1800s pigeons were used for the first time as commercial messengers by the Rothschild family to communicate Fall of Constantinople 1204
Fall of Constantinople 1204 Pigeon Post Woodcarving 1481 Reuters News Agency Paul Julius Reuter 1869
During the siege of Paris by the Prussians in 1870-71, carrier pigeons were taken out of the city, along with refugees, by balloon. Siege of Paris 1870 Post Office Notice Paris 1870
Pigeon Poster, Paris 1870
The Prussians became aware of the carrier pigeons and employed hawks in an attempt to catch them, but many of the birds got through and delivered their messages. Medals commemorating the arrival of the pigeon post in Paris 1870
The first airmail service using pigeons was established in 1896 in New Zealand and was known as the Pigeon-Gram Service. Pigeon Post Route, Auckland to Pigeon Gram Stamp Pigeon-Gram Stamp
Great Barrier Island
Great Barrier Island 1899
In the First World War, pigeons were used extensively for carrying messages. WW2 Paratrooper with World War 1 Mobile Pigeon Loft GI Joe Orissa Police Pigeon Box
Carrier Pigeon
Orissa Police Orissa Police Carrier Message Attached to
Pigeon Handlers
Pigeon Station
Orissa Police
Carrier Pigeon
The Pigeon as a Source of Food:
Ancient Dove Houses, Early Clay Pigeon Breeding Pots Egyptian Tomb
Cappadocia Turkey
Dovecote in Karanis Egypt AD 65
Although little is known of the domestication of the pigeon in China, an excavation of a tomb at Chang-Chou, near Honan, dating back to the 1st century AD found pigeon lofts built into towers around a central courtyard. This appears to confirm that pigeons were domesticated over two thousand years ago in China and used either for food or for sacrifice, or possibly as messengers. In the same century, the Roman writer Varro, who wrote extensively about animal husbandry, described the domestic pigeon in some detail and the types of buildings in which they were housed. His description of the interiors of the lofts or dovecotes are quite detailed, describing the ledges upon which the birds roosted and bred as well as the smooth surfaces around flight holes designed to deny access to predators. Roman Dovecote,
Holywell UK
Garway Dovecote, Garway Dovecote, Penmon 13th Century Dovecote Luntley Court 15th-16th
1326 - Exterior
1326 - Interior
Century Dovecote
In 16th century England, pigeon production for meat became commercial, with some pigeon farms housing anything up to 30,000 birds. The wide popularity of pigeon meat resulted in the bird becoming part of the daily diet rather than being considered only as a delicacy. In the main it was the squab (pigeon chick) that was consumed, with young birds being killed at approximately 4 weeks old for the table. Although most ancient dovecotes are believed to be round in shape, the 17th century saw rectangular and octagonal dovecotes being built, some with incredibly intricate designs and housing many thousands of birds. 17th Century Dovecote Dovecote Interior Breeding Holes in
Accommodating
728 Breeding Pairs
17th Century Dovecote
Although pigeons were farmed in the main for meat, their by-products were also in great demand. Roof and ‘Lantern’ of Restored 17th
17th Century Dovecote
Century Dovecote
Interior of Minster
Lovell Hall Dovecote
“Grow squabs in your backyard. Take little room, grow quickly, are easy to raise. The pair of pigeons Noah took into the Ark could nest, hatch and raise a pair of squabs in the forty days the rain lasted. The eggs of pigeons hatch in 17 days. The squabs are ready to eat in three to four weeks. No other domestic bird or animal can make its meat product in so short a time and repeat 7 or 8 times a year. Nothing easier to raise. Nothing better to eat.”
In Britain, pigeon farming died out in the early part of the 20th century and there has been little interest since other than a mild resurgence of interest between the two Great Wars and later in 1971 where pigeons were bred for meat in Kent. Ironically, the pigeon is now wrongly perceived as a disease carrier, in the main as a result of commercial propaganda pumped out by the pest control industry, with America being the source of a majority of this misinformation. However, it was less than 100 years ago when Americans were told that there is 'nothing better to eat' than the pigeon, confirming absolutely the myth that the pigeon is a disease carrier.
The Pigeon in Wartime:
The first historical mention of the pigeon being used to carry messages in wartime was in the city of Sumer in southern Mesopotamia in 2500 BC. The ruler of the city released two doves to carry the news of the relief of the city from its warring neighbours.
Hannibal Crossing the Alps
Later, in 53 BC, Hannibal was thought to have used pigeons to carry despatches during the Battle of Modena, and Julius Caesar is also believed to have used pigeons to carry messages during the conquest of Gaul (northern Italy, France, Belgium and western Switzerland) from 58 to 51 BC. Hannibal Crossing the Alps Julius Caesar First Balloon to Leave Paris
During Siege in 1870
Pigeons were used extensively throughout the First Great War and continued to play an important role in the Second Great War, but to a lesser degree due to advances in technology and communications. Pigeons were most commonly used as message carriers and the role that the birds played in the Intelligence Service cannot be underestimated. Pigeons were used to maintain contact with resistance movements across Europe, often flying over enemy territories where they stood a far greater chance of delivering their message than an airplane or vehicle. Pigeons Being Transported
World War I
In 1915, at the start of the First Great War, two Pigeon Corps were established on the Western Front, consisting of 15 pigeon stations each with 4 birds and a handler. The Pigeon Corps was so successful that further birds were recruited and the service expanded considerably. By the end of the war the Pigeon Corps consisted of 400 men and 22,000 pigeons in 150 mobile lofts. Pigeon Wagon World War I 'President Wilson' War Mobile Pigeon Loft World War I London Bus Converted
Hhero, World War I
to
Mobile Pigeon Loft,
World War I
As pigeons can fly at incredible speeds, over 125 kilometres per hour, this method of communication was faster and more reliable than the very basic telegraph systems in service during the First Great War. ‘The Mocker’, War Hero, French Pigeon Corps, World War I
World War I
Many pigeons in both Great Wars were awarded for their bravery and their heroism. One example in the First Great War was a pigeon named ‘Red Cock’, who was awarded the Dickin Medal for bravery, considered to be the equivalent of the Victoria Cross. Red Cock was released from a torpedoed trawler and returned to his loft with a message carrying the grid reference of the sinking boat. As a result, the crew were saved, although the captain, who released the pigeon, was mortally wounded. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. The Dickin medal is awarded to any animal that has distinguished itself through an act of bravery in wartime, and of all the animals that have been recognised for this award, the pigeon has been recognised more times than any. Of the 55 medals awarded to date, pigeons have been recognised 32 times.
Probably the most famous recipient of an award for bravery in the First Great War was a British pigeon called Cher Ami, which was donated by British pigeon fanciers to the US Army Signal Corps. Cher Ami Major Charles Whittlesey Cher Ami
US soldiers attaching message to pigeon World War 1
![Cher Ami Cher Ami](assets/images_about/Cher ami.jpg)
Cher Ami
The last bird was called for, Cher Ami, and Major Whittlesey wrote a final message saying: “We are along road parallel to 276:4. Own artillery is dropping a barrage directly on us. For Heaven’s sake, stop it!” and attached the message to Cher Ami.![Mobile pigeon loft World War 1 Mobile pigeon loft World War 1](assets/images_about/WW1 mobile pigeon loft.jpg)
Mobile Pigeon Loft, World War 1
The bird was immediately shot through the breast by enemy fire and fell to the ground, but managed to get back into the air. Cher Ami then flew the 25 miles back to his loft at Division Headquarters through a constant barrage of enemy fire and made the journey in 25 minutes. As a result, 194 men from the 77th Infantry Division were saved. Cher Ami had delivered the message despite having been shot through the breast, blinded in one eye, covered in blood, and with a leg hanging by only a tendon. He became a hero of the 77th Division and medics managed to save his life and replace his leg with a wooden one.The Lost Battalion, 77th Division
When the bird was well enough to travel he was sent back to the USA and became the mascot of the Department of Service. The pigeon was awarded the Croix de Guerre Medal with a palm Oak Leaf Cluster for his heroic service in delivering 12 important messages in Verdun. Australian Pigeon Lofts WW2,
New Guinea
In the Second Great War, pigeons continued to be used throughout Europe and as far afield as Burma and India. The American and Australian Services also used pigeons extensively and had their own pigeon units operating in many different countries. Allied bomber crews usually carried a pair of pigeons so that in the event that the plane was shot down, the birds could be released with details of the crash site. Pigeon Message Capsule,
World War 2
Pigeon Carrying Vest,
World War 2
In 1943 a pigeon called White Vision was awarded the Dickin medal for “…delivering a message under exceptionally difficult conditions and so contributing to the rescue of an air crew while serving with the RAF in October 1943”. Paratrooper with Pigeon in World War 2 Paratrooper
Harness, World War 2
with Carrier Pigeon
In 1940 over 300 crates of pigeons were dropped into Enemy-occupied areas of Europe, each bird being packed into a single box with enough food for 10 days.Instructions and a questionnaire were also included in the box. The idea was that if found by an ally, information about enemy movement could be put inside the container on the bird’s leg and the bird released to fly back to its loft in Britain. An estimated 16,544 pigeons were parachuted into occupied Europe during the Second Great War but only 1,842 returned.
World War 2 Pigeon Carrier with Message Equipment
World War 2 Pigeon Carrier with Message Equipment
Message Enclosed in Pigeon Carrier
However, important information was received via the birds, particularly information relating to exact positions of the V1 flying bomb site in Peenemunde in Germany. Pigeons were also used extensively for aerial photography. Pigeon with Message World War 2, Pigeon
Capsule and Harness
with Camera
The following quote, from Major General Fowler, Chief of the Department of Signals and Communications for the British Army, sums up just what a vitally important role the pigeon played in wartime:
“It is the pigeon on which we must and do depend when every other method fails. During quiet periods we can rely on the telephone, telegraph, flag signals, our dogs and various other ways in use on the front with the British Army, but when the battle rages and everything gives way to barrage and machine-gun fire, to say nothing of gas attacks and bombing, it is to the pigeon that we go for succour. When the troops are lost or surrounded in the mazes on the front, or are advancing and yet beyond the known localities, then we depend absolutely on the pigeon for our communications. Regular methods in such cases are worthless and it is at just such times that we need most messengers that we can rely on. In pigeons we have them. I am glad to say that they have never failed us.”
In 2004 an impressive memorial to commemorate all the animals and birds killed during wartime was erected in Hyde Park. Pigeons have been given pride of place on the wall of the sculpture where they are carved in relief, with two pack mules in the foreground weighed down with munitions and cannon parts.
Memorial to Animals Lost in War, Hyde Park
Memorial to Animals Lost Dickin Medal For Bravery
in War, Hyde Park
The following pigeons received the Dickin medal for bravery:
- NEHU.40.NS.1 - Blue Cheq. Hen "Winkie"
- MEPS.43.1263 - Red Cheq. Cock "George"
- SURP.41.L.3089 - White Hen "White Vision"
- NPS.41.NS.4230 - "Beachbomber"
- NPS.42.31066 - Grizzle Cock "Gustav"
- NPS.43.94451 - Dark Cheq. Cock "Paddy"
- NURP.36.JH.190 - Dark Cheq. Hen "Kenley Lass"
- NURP.38.EGU.242 - Red Cheq. Cock "Commando"
- NPS.42.NS.44802 - Dark Cheq. Cock "Flying Dutchman"
- NURP.40.GVIS.453- Blue Cock "Royal Blue"
- NURP.41.A.2164 - "Dutch Coast"
- NPS.41.NS.2862 - Blue Cock "Navy Blue"
- NPS.42.NS.15125 - Mealy Cock "William of Orange"
- NPS.43.29018 - Dark Cheq. Cock "Ruhr Express"
- NPS.42.21610 - B.C. Hen "Scotch Lass"
- NU.41.HQ.4373 - Blue Cock "Billy"
- NURP.39.NRS.144 - Red Cock "Cologne"
- NPS.42.36392 - "Maquis"
- NPS.42.NS.7542 -
- 41.BA.2793 - "Broad Arrow"
- NURP.39.SDS.39 - "All Alone"
- NURP.37.CEN.335 - "Mercury"
- NURP.38.BPC.6 -
- DD.43.T.139 -
- DDD.43.Q.879 -
- NURP.41.SBC.219 - Cock "Duke of Normandy"
- NURP.43.CC.2418 - B.C. Hen
- NURP.40.WLE.249 - "Mary"
- NURP.41.DHZ.56 - "Tommy"
- 42.WD.593 - "Princess"
- USA.43.SC.6390 - "G.I. Joe"
Pigeons for Sport:
The first historical mention of pigeons being used for the purposes of sport is in the Jewish Talmud (AD 200 – 500). The Talmud is a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, customs and history. Within the Talmud there is a definition of a pigeon trainer as being someone who deploys decoy birds to attract other birds from another loft or dovecote. This reference suggests that the ancient pigeon flying sport of Triganieri, or a version of this sport, may have been first practiced as far back as AD200.
The sport of Triganieri is thought to have originated in Modena in northern Italy during the 14th century. Modena Pigeon
Triganieri, Modena in 14th Century Crimean Falconer
Dovecote-bred pigeons were commonly used for the sport of falconry. Of course hawks and falcons were commonly used to kill wild pigeons and in fact still are today in many countries worldwide, particularly the Middle East and the UK. Pigeons were also used to train falcons, using a live pigeon as a lure rather than the more common feathered lure. Medieval Falconry Queen Elizabeth 1st
Hawking, 1575
In the late 18th century, organised pigeon shooting became a popular sport in England, with tame dovecote-bred birds being used as targets. Up to 120 birds were used during one event. Early ‘meets’ took place in Ealing and Battersea, with large sums of money being wagered during competitions. Later, organised pigeon shooting clubs were established, with the famous Hurlingham Club being founded in London in 1869. Hurlingham House, Fulham
Olympic Games Poster, Pigeon Shoots in Pennsylvania Pigeon Cage Trap
Paris 1900
Pigeon racing as we know it today is the sport most commonly associated with pigeons and a sport which is still enjoyed by large numbers of enthusiasts worldwide. The modern day sport of pigeon racing started in Belgium in 1850 and within 20 years had made its way across the Channel and was being enjoyed in the UK. One of the most famous pigeon ‘fanciers’ of the 19th century was the naturalist and geologist Charles Darwin, who was a member of two London pigeon clubs. Charles Darwin
Pigeon races are organised and controlled by local pigeon racing clubs who transport the birds to various release sites, both in the UK and in Europe, from where they are released to fly back to their ‘loft’.
Pigeon Loft
Pigeons are released to fly over a carefully measured distance during a race and the time it takes the animal to cover the specified distance is then measured. The bird's rate of travel is then calculated and compared with that of all the other pigeons in the race to determine Old Timing Clock Large Modern Pigeon Loft Pigeon Racing Rings Pigeon Racing Rings
In an effort to update the system of recording arrival times, an electronic timing system is now more commonly used where the arrival of the bird is recorded automatically. Each bird is fitted with a band that contains an RFID chip (radio-frequency identification), which is automatically read as the bird arrives at the loft. A pad or antenna is placed at the entry point to the loft Selection of Pigeon Timing Clocks
In the early part of the 20th century, pigeons were transported to release sites in horse-drawn carriages, but today huge articulated lorries with all modern conveniences for both pigeons and owners transport thousands of birds to a single race. Pigeon Transporter and Release Pigeon Transporter
It is common for pigeons to fail to return home after a race, with large numbers of birds falling prey to exhaustion, weather conditions and birds of prey. Many of the survivors join feral flocks in urban areas and integrate quickly with feral birds. Pigeons Feeding Pigeon Race 1997
There are many theories about how pigeons manage to return ‘home’ when released 100s of miles away from their loft. A champion racing pigeon can be released 400-600 miles away from its home and still return within the day. It is believed that the instinct to return to a mate and nest is a powerful motivator, but this does not explain the ability to travel such extraordinary distances and at such speeds. An adult pigeon in good condition can achieve average speeds of up to 125 kmph on short to middle distance flights and fly at an altitude of 6,000 feet. A 10-year study carried out by Oxford University concluded that pigeons use roads and motorways to navigate, in some cases even changing direction at motorway junctions. Other theories include navigation by use of the earth’s magnetic field, using visual clues such as landmarks, navigating by the sun and even using infrasounds (low frequency seismic waves).
Poisoned Sparrowhawk Poisoned Golden Eagle Poisoned Red Kite
Pigeon racing saw a massive increase in popularity at the end of the First Great War, and between the two wars the sport was enjoyed by entire families. The popularity of the sport peaked in the 1950s, Memorial to Animals Lost
in War, Hyde Park
There has been a marked decline in the sport in recent years which is blamed, certainly in part, on the restrictions imposed on keeping pigeons on residential properties. Due to the negative and inaccurate publicity generated by the pest control industry, suggesting that pigeons are disease carriers, objections are quickly raised if a pigeon loft is erected on a residential property.
Pigeon Loft
Alternative sites for racing pigeon lofts are almost impossible to find and there is the inevitable risk of vandalism and theft associated with remote lofts. The future for pigeon racing is unsure in the long-term but although the sport is in decline at present, it is far from dying out. It must be hoped that the sport will continue long into the future and help to raise the profile of a much maligned and unique bird that has given so much to man and yet has been rewarded with hate and persecution in the 21st century.
Fancy Breeds of Pigeons:
Greek Poet Homer Greek Philosopher Socrates
Roman Historian Pliny Rock Doves in Natural Habitat Fancy Pigeons Illustration
Throughout the next 2000 years breeding and cross-breeding of the pigeon to produce fancy breeds has become an art form, with over 300 known breeds of fancy pigeon in existence today. The grouping of fancy breeds is complex but can be roughly defined in 8 separate headings:
Utility Pigeons:
These are breeds that were originally bred for meat and include the ‘French Mondain’ and the ‘King’.
Mondain King
Flying Tumblers and Highfliers:
This group of fancy pigeons includes birds that are bred for show purposes but which can also be used in flying competitions for their acrobatic abilities. This group includes the ‘Tumbler’, the ‘Tippler’ and the ‘Roller’.
Tumbler Tippler Roller
Asian Feather and Voice Pigeons:
This group has been developed for extensive feathering and for their laughing or ‘trumpeting’ voice. The group includes the well-known ‘Fantail’, the ‘Trumpeter’ and the ‘Jacobin’.
Fantail Fancy Jacobin Trumpeter
Pigeon
Homer Pigeons (Homing Pigeons):
As the name suggests, this group of pigeons was bred for their homing abilities but also includes racing birds bred specifically for showing. The group includes the ‘English Carrier’, the ‘Dragoon’ and the ‘German Beauty Homer’.
English Carrier Dragoon German Beauty Homer
Exhibition Tumblers:
Some members of this group were originally bred for their acrobatic abilities but have been interbred to such an extent that they are now considered to be purely show birds. This group includes the ‘Nun’, the ‘English Short Faced Tumbler’ and the ‘Magpie’.
Nun Dragoon English Short Faced
Tumbler
Colour Pigeons:
This group consists of many different varieties of fancy pigeon bred specifically for their colour and markings. The group includes the ‘Archangel’, the ‘Swallow’ and the ‘Danish Suabian’.
Archangel Swallow Danish Suabian
Pouters and Croppers:
This group of fancy pigeons is bred purely for their ability to inflate their crop with air. The group includes the ‘English Pouter’, the ‘Norwich Cropper’ and the ‘Pigmy Pouter’.
English Pouter Norwich Cropper Pigmy Pouter
Frills and Owls:
This group has been bred for their stunted beaks and their extraordinary chest feathers. This group includes the ‘Old German Owl’, the ‘Oriental Frill’ and the ‘Aachen Lacquer Shield Owl’.
Old German Owl Oriental Frill Aachen Lacquer Shield Owl
The breeding of fancy pigeons is an international pastime, with pigeon fanciers coming together at local, national and international shows to compete for ever-growing prizes. The German National Pigeon Show, one of the largest national pigeon shows, is held annually in Nurnberg and attracted 33,500 people to the 2006 event. This demonstrates how popular pigeon fancying has become. The annual show held by the Royal Pigeon Racing Association in Blackpool is attended by upwards of 25,000 people each year, with all profits raised from the event being donated to charity.
Common Varieties of Pigeons (UK):
Other than the wild rock dove, of which there are very few remaining, and the feral pigeon, there are only 3 other varieties of the columbidae family commonly found in the UK: wood pigeon (Columba palumbus), collared dove or ring-necked dove (Streptopelia decaocto), turtle dove (Streptopelia turtur) and the stock dove (Columba oenas).
Wood pigeon
Wood Pigeon
British Trust for Ornithology
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) RSPB Adult Wood Pigeon
Unlike the feral pigeon, however, the wood pigeon is found predominantly in rural areas, but in the last 30 years the bird has started to exploit urban habitats as a result of increasing persecution in its natural habitat.
The wood pigeon is the largest pigeon in the UK, measuring 38-43 cm and weighing 480-550 grams. Wood Pigeon Wood Pigeon Juvenile Wood Pigeon Juvenile Wood Pigeon
Being Fed
The wood pigeon breeds between June and November, but can breed much earlier Adult Wood PiCAS International Adult Wood Pigeon
Pigeon with
Juvenile
Woodland areas are the natural choice for Wood Pigeon
Wood Pigeons Mating
The young fledge at 33-37 days but can fledge much earlier or stay in the nest longer in some circumstances.
Juvenile Wood Wood Pigeon
Pigeon
in Flight
Flock of Wood Pigeons
The wood pigeon is slaughtered in huge numbers, often illegally, by farmers and those selling shooting rights on their land. Wood Pigeon Wood Pigeons in a Field
Wood Pigeon Shooting
Collared dove or ring-necked dove
Collared Dove Collared Dove
Neck Ring
The collared dove is a small bird, smaller than the feral pigeon, measuring 31-33 cm and weighing 150-220 grams. It is a pinkish grey colour all over with the exception of a narrow black band around the rear of the neck and dark wing tips on the primary flight feathers. Collared Dove Collared Dove Squab in Nest
Collared doves breed almost exclusively in trees or bushes and build a very basic nest made of small twigs. Breeding takes place between February/March and October, but the birds can breed earlier or later depending on weather conditions and food sources. Collared Dove Squabs in Nest Collared Dove Collared Doves
Stock dove
Stock Dove Stock Dove
The stock dove measures 32-34 cm in length with an average weight of 290-330 grams, almost identical to the rock dove and feral pigeon. The head and beak of the bird are similar to a Stock Dove Stock Dove
Stock Dove
Stock Dove Pigeon Shooting
The stock dove is a shy and solitary bird and normally found in rural areas, mainly farmland, moorland and open parkland areas with large deciduous trees. The bird is rarely found in urban areas. Although the stock dove inhabits the same areas as the wood pigeon, it is rarely found in large flocks, with birds more likely to be seen in pairs rather than in numbers. Like the wood pigeon, the stock dove is shot extensively due to its natural habitat on farmland, often illegally and mainly for sport, but in the name of control.
Turtle dove
Turtle Dove Turtle Dove
The turtle dove is also the smallest of all the members of the columbidae family resident in the UK, measuring 26-28 cm in length and weighing 130-180 grams. The bird is very similar to the collared dove in outline but with extraordinary orange-brown and black wing markings with a whitish/pink head and breast. Turtle Dove Turtle Dove Turtle Dove
Turtle Dove
Turtle Dove
What does the future hold for the feral pigeon?
Since early history, the pigeon has lived alongside man and been exploited by man for food, sport and as a messenger, courtesy of the birds’ unique ability to return to its nest and its mate from huge distances. The feral pigeon is now one of the most successful and resourceful species on the planet and is found in virtually every part of the globe with the exception of the Sahara Desert and the two Polar ice caps. The bird has adapted to survive in extreme weather conditions and in temperatures ranging from -50° to +50°, yet it has still managed to proliferate. The pigeon is one of the most intelligent species on the planet and able to undertake tasks that were previously thought to be the sole preserve of humans and primates. The pigeon can pass the ‘mirror test’ (being able to recognise its own reflection in a mirror) and can even recognise all 26 letters of the alphabet, and man has exploited this intelligence and these abilities for thousands of years. The pigeon has served man faithfully and often heroically throughout. However, in the 21st century the pigeon has at last outlived its usefulness and is slaughtered by the millions for commercial gain, often illegally, without a thought to the debt of gratitude that is owed to the bird. In the last 50 years the pigeon has been persecuted by man to the point where virtually any other species would have disappeared altogether, but unlike the passenger pigeon, which was wiped out in North America in the early 20th century as a result of over hunting, the feral pigeon continues to thrive. Millions of urban pigeons are killed annually by the pest control industry for commercial gain and yet the bird continues to be perceived as an ever-growing problem in towns and cities worldwide. Why is this? Basically because killing pigeons as a method of control actually increases pigeon flock size. Furthermore, the source of the problem (Link to ‘Reducing Pigeon Numbers in Towns and Cities), available food, is rarely dealt with.
Pigeons breed all year round and according to the extent of food available to them. If food is readily available, and assuming that good roosting and breeding opportunities exist, the feral pigeon will breed between 4 and 8 times a year, bringing two young into the world each time. A juvenile pigeon can breed in its first year of life. Simple maths confirms that unless available food is strictly controlled, pigeons will rapidly breed out of control, resulting in overpopulations in areas of human habitation. To add to this, scientific research and research carried out by PiCAS International has proved that when pigeons from a feeding flock are killed as a method of control, flock size will increase by between 12% and 30% within a matter of months, further entrenching the problem.
So why do we still kill pigeons as a method of control and fail to deal with the issue of available food? Not only because the pest control industry is dependent on the huge annual income derived from killing pigeons but also because councils and other bodies either choose ‘quick fix’ culling options to control pigeons or choose to ignore the problem altogether rather than implementing sustainable control systems that deal with the source of the problem. It must therefore be concluded that ‘pigeon problems’ are, in reality, ‘people problems’ and must be dealt with as such.
Although it may appear that the solution to the problem is relatively straightforward – stop killing pigeons) as a method of control and reduce available food – the reality is far from straightforward. The pest control industry pumps out huge volumes of propaganda suggesting that pigeons are disease carriers and that they pose a significant threat to human health. A majority of this misinformation has no basis in fact, or is wildly exaggerated, but it has the desired effect and the public is quickly convinced that pigeons pose a real health risk when in reality they pose little or no risk at all. Billions of pounds annually are spent on culling operations worldwide and yet this simply has the effect of increasing the size of pigeon populations. It is certainly not in the best interests of the pest control industry to cease offering these services. Furthermore, the deliberate and persistent daily feeding of pigeon populations with large quantities of food compounds the problem by further encouraging pigeons to breed. The pest control industry will not desist from culling because it generates a huge proportion of its annual profits from this source, and those that feed pigeons refuse to stop doing so for fear of pigeons dying as a result.
So what is the answer?
An organisation called the Pigeon Control Advisory Service International (PiCAS International) pioneered a method of controlling feral pigeon populations that not only deals with the main problem associated with pigeons, the soiling of buildings, but also reduces pigeon flock size humanely and effectively via birth control. The system is discussed in detail in the Artificial Breeding Facilities document that can be found in the Product Review Section. The system is simple and inexpensive to set up and maintain and results in a massive decrease in pigeon flock size if implemented as recommended. The system is now used to great effect in many European countries and some users of the system have even suggested that the degree of control gained over pigeon flock size by this option negates the need to restrict the feeding of pigeons . However, even if a holistic and sustainable control system of this type is initiated, there is a clear need to reduce the use of lethal controls and stop the irresponsible feeding of feral flocks.
Even though man no longer has a need for the pigeon in the 21st century, there is clearly still a place for this much-loved and much-maligned bird. Slowly we are realising that we cannot wipe out wild bird populations just because they are inconvenient or unwelcome - particularly when the source of the problem is human. With the advent of the Internet and the wider availability of information, we are learning how and why problems such as those associated with the feral pigeon exist and how we can better deal with them. We also know that pigeon populations can be controlled in a humane and effective manner and that to continue to use commercially motivated controls such as culling is not only morally wrong (and often illegal) but also counterproductive. The future may not be full of hope for the pigeon, but the bird has survived in close association with man for over 10,000 years and it is likely that it will continue to do so well into the future.
Warm thanks to Dr Jean Hansell and her late husband Dr Peter Hansell, without whose wonderful and comprehensive books on the history of the pigeon this document could not have been written.