Fancy pigeon refers to any

breed A breed is a specific group of breedable domestic animals having homogeneous appearance (phenotype), homogeneous behavior, and/or other characteristics that distinguish it from other organisms of the same species. In literature, there exist seve ...

domestic pigeon The domestic pigeon (''Columba livia domestica'' or ''Columba livia'' Form (zoology), forma ''domestica'') is a pigeon subspecies that was derived from the rock dove, rock dove or rock pigeon. The rock pigeon is the world's oldest domesticated ...

, which is a

domesticated Domestication is a multi-generational mutualistic relationship in which an animal species, such as humans or leafcutter ants, takes over control and care of another species, such as sheep or fungi, to obtain from them a steady supply of reso ...

form of the wild

rock dove The rock dove (''Columba livia''), also sometimes known as "rock pigeon" or "common pigeon", is a member of the bird family Columbidae (doves and pigeons). In common usage, it is often simply referred to as the "pigeon", although the rock dov ...

(''Columba livia''). They are bred by pigeon fanciers for various traits relating to size, shape, color, and behavior, and often exhibited at pigeon shows, fairs and other livestock exhibits. There are about 800 pigeon breeds; considering all regional varieties all over the world there may be 1100 breeds. The European list of fancy pigeons alone names about 500 breeds. No other domestic animal has branched out into such a variety of forms and colours.

Charles Darwin Charles Robert Darwin ( ; 12 February 1809 – 19 April 1882) was an English Natural history#Before 1900, naturalist, geologist, and biologist, widely known for his contributions to evolutionary biology. His proposition that all speci ...

is known to have crossbred fancy pigeons, particularly the ice pigeon, to study variation within species, this work coming three years before his groundbreaking publication, ''

On the Origin of Species ''On the Origin of Species'' (or, more completely, ''On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life'')The book's full original title was ''On the Origin of Species by M ...

''.

Pigeon showing

Pigeon fanciers from many countries exhibit their birds at local, inter-state or national shows and compete against one another for prizes. One typical country show in Australia in 2008 had hundreds of pigeons on display and prizes for the winners. In England, the Philoperisteron Society conducted annual shows in the mid 1800s. There were also a London Columbarian Society. The extensive variations in the breeds attracted the attention of

and played a major role in developing ideas on evolution. Some fanciers organize exhibitions exclusively for pigeons; one held in

Blackpool Blackpool is a seaside town in Lancashire, England. It is located on the Irish Sea coast of the Fylde peninsula, approximately north of Liverpool and west of Preston, Lancashire, Preston. It is the main settlement in the Borough of Blackpool ...

run by the Royal Pigeon Racing Association is annually attended by about 25,000 people and generates around £80,000 profit, which is donated to charity. The largest pigeon show is held in

Nuremberg Nuremberg (, ; ; in the local East Franconian dialect: ''Nämberch'' ) is the Franconia#Towns and cities, largest city in Franconia, the List of cities in Bavaria by population, second-largest city in the States of Germany, German state of Bav ...

: the German National Pigeon Show, which had over 33,500 pigeons at the 2006 show.. In the United States, there are hundreds of local, state and national pigeon clubs that sponsor shows. The largest shows are the National Young Bird Show, held in

Louisville, Kentucky Louisville is the List of cities in Kentucky, most populous city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, sixth-most populous city in the Southeastern United States, Southeast, and the list of United States cities by population, 27th-most-populous city ...

in October, and the National Pigeon Association's Grand National, held in a different city each year and usually in January.

Major breed families

This grouping system is adapted from ''Australian Fancy Pigeons National Book of Standards''.Seymour, Rev. Colin (Ed)(2006) ''Australian Fancy Pigeons National Book of Standards''. Consideration was given to the new UK standards book which followed the German and European grouping. This version differs slightly from that of th
European grouping
the following system is arbitrary and used solely for organizing breed articles until a grouping can be accepted worldwide.

Asian feather and voice pigeons

This group includes breeds developed for extensive feathering that originated in the Asian region, as well as breeds cultivated for their trumpeting, or laughing, voice. *

Fantail Fantails are small insectivorous songbirds of the genus ''Rhipidura'' in the family Rhipiduridae, native to Australasia, Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Most of the species are about long, specialist aerial feeders, and named as "f ...

* Frillback *

Jacobin The Society of the Friends of the Constitution (), renamed the Society of the Jacobins, Friends of Freedom and Equality () after 1792 and commonly known as the Jacobin Club () or simply the Jacobins (; ), was the most influential political cl ...

Lahore Lahore ( ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, Pakistani province of Punjab, Pakistan, Punjab. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, second-largest city in Pakistan, after Karachi, and ...

Trumpeter The trumpet is a brass instrument commonly used in classical and jazz musical ensemble, ensembles. The trumpet group ranges from the piccolo trumpet—with the highest Register (music), register in the brass family—to the bass trumpet, pitche ...

* English Trumpeter

Colour pigeons

Most of these pigeons originate in Germany, and are sometimes listed as German Toys. There are many varieties, with a wide selection of colours and markings. * Archangel pigeon * Danish Suabian * Saxon Field Pigeon *

Starling Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine (perching) birds known for the often dark, glossy iridescent sheen of their plumage; their complex vocalizations including mimicking; and their distinctive, often elaborate swarming behavior, know ...

Swallow The swallows, martins, and saw-wings, or Hirundinidae are a family of passerine songbirds found around the world on all continents, including occasionally in Antarctica. Highly adapted to aerial feeding, they have a distinctive appearance. The ...

* Thuringen Field Pigeon * Ice Pigeon

Frills and Owls

The word "frill" here relates to the reversed feathering on the chest of these varieties. This group is also noted for having short beaks. * Aachen Lacquer Shield Owl * African Owl * Chinese Owl * Italian Owl * Old German Owl * Oriental Frill * Turbit

Homer and Hen Pigeons

Homing pigeons

This group includes breeds originally developed for their homing ability, and includes show-type racing pigeons. * American Show Racer *

Dragoon Dragoons were originally a class of mounted infantry, who used horses for mobility, but dismounted to fight on foot. From the early 17th century onward, dragoons were increasingly also employed as conventional cavalry and trained for combat wi ...

* English Carrier * German Beauty Homer *

Homing pigeon The homing pigeon is a variety of domestic pigeon (''Columba livia domestica''), selectively bred for its ability to find its way home over extremely long distances. Because of this skill, homing pigeons were used to carry messages, a practice ...

Pouters and Croppers

This group includes breeds developed for the ability to inflate their crops. *

English Pouter The English Pouter is a breed of fancy pigeon developed over many years of selective breeding. English Pouters, along with other varieties of domesticated pigeons, are all descendants from the rock pigeon. A breed with an enlarged crop, thei ...

Brunner Pouter The Brunner Pouter is a breed of fancy pigeon developed over many years of selective breeding Selective breeding (also called artificial selection) is the process by which humans use animal breeding and plant breeding to selectively deve ...

* Gaditano Pouter * Holle Cropper * Horseman Pouter *

Norwich Cropper The Norwich Cropper is a breed of fancy pigeon developed over many years of selective breeding. The Norwich Cropper along with other varieties of domesticated pigeons are all descendants from the rock pigeon (''Columba livia''). The Norwich Cropp ...

* Pigmy Pouter * Pouter * Voorburg shield cropper * Old German Croppers *Magpi pouter

Exhibition Tumblers

This group originally consisted of flying/tumbler breeds, but has now been refined to include only purely ornamental/exhibition breeds. * English Long-faced Tumbler * English Short-faced Tumbler *

Helmet A helmet is a form of protective gear worn to protect the head. More specifically, a helmet complements the skull in protecting the human brain. Ceremonial or symbolic helmets (e.g., a policeman's helmet in the United Kingdom) without protecti ...

* English Magpie *

Nun A nun is a woman who vows to dedicate her life to religious service and contemplation, typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in the enclosure of a monastery or convent.''The Oxford English Dictionary'', vol. X, page 5 ...

* Bucharest Short-faced Tumbler

Flying Tumblers and Highfliers

This group is dual purpose in that its members can be shown, but also retain acrobatic or sporting ability and can therefore be used in flying competitions. Flying tumbler varieties belong in this group. Although many varieties in this grouping have become primarily show varieties, they are still expected to display characteristics of performing birds. *

Armenian Tumbler The Armenian Tumbler is a breed of tumblers that originated in Armenia, where they are bred for their color and flight. As the name suggests the Armenian Tumbler is a part of the Tumbler family. The species, like most pigeon Columbidae i ...

* Australian Performing Tumbler * Danzig Highflyer * Donek * Roller * Tippler

Utility pigeons

This group includes breeds originally developed as sources of

meat Meat is animal Tissue (biology), tissue, often muscle, that is eaten as food. Humans have hunted and farmed other animals for meat since prehistory. The Neolithic Revolution allowed the domestication of vertebrates, including chickens, sheep, ...

. * Carneau * French Mondain * King pigeon * American Giant Runt * Strasser pigeon

References

External links

National Pigeon Association - USA

Purebred Pigeon Magazine

National Young Bird Show - USA

Fancy Pigeon Portraits

Egypt Swifts - Pigeon News
{Dead link, date=December 2019 , bot=InternetArchiveBot , fix-attempted=yes Aviculture Domesticated animals Domestic pigeons