The domestication of pigeons took place, according to historians, about five centuries ago. Since then, hundreds of breeds that differ in appearance and habits have been bred by humans. But if at first pigeons had a purely practical use, today they are often bred “for the soul” and for purely decorative purposes.
Classification of breeds of pigeons
Only domestic breeds of pigeons, there are about a thousand. To understand the diversity of this bird, there are several classification options. The most convenient and simple is the separation of pigeons for their intended purpose.
Classification of pigeons for practical use:
- wild
- sports;
- flight;
- meat;
- decorative.
Breeding pigeons is still of interest among people who are not indifferent to the animal world. These birds are reared for both practical and aesthetic purposes. It is simply impossible to consider the whole variety of pigeons in one article. Let us dwell on the most interesting and popular breeds.
Hryvnia
Old Russian flying breed. The second name is Perm. The species on the basis of which Permyaks were bred - Kamyshin and Dubov pigeons, white Penza Turman. Along with Perm, they also breed Kirov, Nikolaev, Kazan, Yaroslavl and Bugulma hryvnias.
Description. A bird with dense white plumage, a small round head and dark eyes. The length of the body is from 35 to 47 cm. The mane is blue, black or red.
Features of the breed. Differ in excellent flight qualities. The spatial orientation is developed. They can stay in flight for 10-12 hours. They can fly at high altitudes, in a rarefied atmosphere.
Breeding. The bird looks modest, but elegant - it will decorate any pigeon house. The breed delights in its flying abilities.
Oak pigeons
Named for the city of Dubovka, located on the river. Volga - it was here that this high-flying breed was bred. The second name is Kondratieff.
Description. The bird is medium in size, with an elongated torso. The tail is slightly raised. Paws are short, without feathers. Oblong head, neck - bent. Beak is white, long - up to 24 mm. The body, tail, head and neck can have a magpie, white, gray-blue, gray-white or pure white color. The wings have colored feathers - epaulettes. The eyes are light silver.
Features of the breed. The breed is distinguished by an unusually long and muffled coo, emanating from the womb. This breed can spend 8 hours in the sky. Fly in a small circle at high altitudes.
Breeding. Bred for flying competitions. Undemanding to the content. Well-developed parental instinct.
Black-pinto Thurman
It is assumed that this ancient flying breed was bred in the 19th century. crossing Oryol beards with Oryol whites. The best Turmans belonged to Kaluga breeders of pigeons, therefore the breed is often called Kaluga. Approved in 1912
Description. Body length - 34-36 cm. It is distinguished by long, sweeping wings, descending below the tail. The head is round, the forehead is high and convex. Big dark eyes. Beak is white, slightly bent down. Plumage - black, cast green. White - cheeks, hips, stomach, chin and wings. Short legs without feathers. A forelock may be present.
Features of the breed. The unique flying qualities of Oryol pigeons were lost in this breed. Turmans have a short flight duration and a heavy turn. Usually the flight takes place in a wide and high circle, and is accompanied by somersaults.
Breeding. Previously bred as flying, today turmans are a decorative bird.
Kamyshin
The breed comes from the town of Kamyshin, on the Volga region. The formation time is the end of the 19th century. Created on the basis of a bluish breed. Kamyshintsev was taken out for the favorite entertainment of pigeons - rut.
Description. Proportional Whisker. Body length - 35-38 cm. The main plumage is black. There are varieties with plumage of yellow, blue, fawn, coffee, red. Standards allow metallic reflux on the chest and neck. The color of the wings, regardless of color, is pure white. The head is retracted, the forehead is flat. Eyes are yellowish or pinkish-gray. The beak is pink, tightly closed. Long wings, tail - flat, raised up.
Features of the breed. Excellent flying qualities. Very attached to the house. In any situation, find the way to their native nest. Fly alone or in a flock in a high circle. Extremely stable - rise to great heights in any weather.
Breeding. The breed is bred for excellent flying qualities.
Spartacus
High-breed breed bred in Ufa. The formation of the breed was in the middle of the 19th century, but the final formation took place in the 50s. 20th century. Ancestors - Staroufimskie pigeons. The second name is Bashkir. The breed standard was adopted in 1981.
Description. Small case - 33-35 cm in length. Strong, slim and strong body. The plumage is dense - red, gray and black. It does not mix with white feathers. White - belly. The head is wide, the forehead is low. Near the beak is a depression. Eyes are yellow-red. The beak is straight, white. The nape is decorated with a forelock. Especially appreciated are birds with a forelock larger than 5 mm.
Features of the breed. A prolific and viable breed. Prefer flocking flight. Fly for a long time, cutting small circles. Fly at very high altitudes.
Breeding. This high-breed breed is popular in its homeland - in Bashkiria, in other regions it is not particularly known. The breed is bred by enthusiasts for the sake of excellent flying qualities.
Gray pigeon
These pigeons are wild breeds. Their second name is sisari. Distributed throughout Russia. Named by the color of the plumage.
Description. Case length - 35 cm. Weight - 200-400 g. Plumage - gray. But it can vary - it is almost black or coffee color. In sizars bred by humans, the plumage can be brown or white. The beak is dark or pink. The eyes of domestic sizars are dark, not orange, like wild ones.
Features of the breed. They lead a sedentary lifestyle, becoming attached to a certain territory. They live mainly in colonies.
Reproduction. Usually sisari breed from spring to fall. It happens that some couples make nests even in winter. One pair gives 3 to 5 clutches. Sizari are very useful for agriculture - they clean the fields of unassembled grains.
Rocky dove
This wild breed of pigeons lives in the Ussuri and Primorsky Territories. Breeds also in the mountainous regions of Tibet, Altai, and the Himalayas.
Description. The plumage is almost the same as that of sisar. But the tail is lighter. The beak is black. It is smaller in size than a gray pigeon. The color is gray. On the head and neck - darker, and with a metallic sheen. The color of the back is white. Paws are red.
Features of the breed. Breeds in pairs or groups. Likes to settle in gorges, rocks, as well as on abandoned construction sites.
Reproduction. A rocky pigeon can serve as a source of hybrid offspring when crossed with domestic pigeons. In the clutch there are only two eggs.
Klintuh
These are wild pigeons that live in the wooded area of Asia and Europe. This is a relative of the city pigeon.
Description. The case is small in size. The length of the body is 32-34 cm. Weight is 300-370 g. Plumage is bluish-gray. Neck with a greenish tint. Back, neck, wings - without stripes and spots. The top and bottom are monotonously colored, practically do not differ from each other.
Features of the breed. Migrates to warmer climes. It has two subspecies - eastern and western populations, which differ in plumage.
Reproduction. The population is numerous - it does not threaten extinction. Propagate from spring to autumn. Have time to sit two clutches of two eggs each.
Armavir pigeons
The breed was bred in the city of Armavir. Selection work has been carried out since the end of the 17th century. Armavir white-headed cosmos was hatched based on the North Caucasian long-billed cosmos.
Description. Breed standards - legs high, feathered, with spurs. Proud of becoming. The beak is long, white. Coloring - yellow, black with a reddish tint. On the head and wings - white plumage. The edges of the wings have a dark border.
Features of the breed. A characteristic difference of the breed is the luxurious plumage on its paws - cosmas. There are two varieties of cosmachines - chubata and toothless. Able to fly up to 1.5 hours at an altitude of 50-100 m.
Reproduction. The breed is included in the international pigeon catalogs. It occupies a place among the most beautiful breeds - these are expensive elite birds. The Armavir breed is grown for the sake of decorativeness and fighting qualities - this breed is part of the fighting group.
Turmans
This is one of the most valuable breeds. The short-billed breed almost disappeared during the Second World War, but was restored by the efforts of breeders. Tourmans have many subspecies, the most popular are Vienna, Odessa, Oryol, Kursk, ribbon, Moscow gray, Volsky.
Description. Most Turmans have a small head and a compact body. Weight - about 800 g. Eyes are dark and eyelids are light. Paws are short, wide-standing. The tail is raised, it has 13 feathers.
Features of the breed. They are small in size and have excellent flying qualities. Flip flops in flight through the head, tail and wing. They are distinguished by strength and endurance.
Breeding. Breeders conduct intensive training with the Turmans. For the special abilities of the Turmans abroad they are also called scooters. Most Turmans combine flying qualities with decorative.
Coffee Turmans
The breed comes from Tula. Pigeon breeders do not have accurate information about the origin of the breed. It is assumed that coffee turmans were created on the basis of Smolensk chubak foreheads.
Description. The head is cubic, faceted. The forehead is wide. The eyes are large, light silver. The eyelids are white. Wide forelock. The plumage is red-brown. Shades range from fawn to dark coffee. The beak is powerful, thick, short.
Features of the breed. The bird is characterized by exacting conditions. Chose to feed, requires careful care.
Breeding. The bird is very beautiful, it is bred for decorative purposes. But its main advantage is outstanding flying abilities. This is an expensive breed, it is difficult to grow it. Like all breeds with short beaks, the coffee thurman is not able to feed his offspring, so you have to provide the chicks with special feeders.
Voronezh White-throated
Beautiful breed, one of the oldest among domestic. It dates back to the time of Empress Catherine II.
Description. Strong body with well-developed muscles. Body length - 33-34 cm. The chest is convex and wide. The plumage is gray-blue, glistens. Head and neck are light gray or white. The head is elongated, with a beard. There is a small flat forelock. The eyes and beak are dark in color. The wings are long, fit snugly to the hull. The tail is straight.
Features of the breed. They have a special flight style. Do not circle when climbing. Slowing the flight, and turning around in place, they rise in height. Having reached a great height, a group of pigeons lined up in a chain. When descending make circles.
Breeding. The breed is considered decorative. Breeding does not require large investments and complicated care.
Curly dove
There is no exact information about the origin of this pigeon. It is assumed that the breed came to us from Asia or Southeast Europe. In Europe, it has been known since the 17th century. A special, curly feather structure was obtained after many years of selection, in which pigeon breeders from different countries participated.
Description. It looks like ordinary pigeons, but there is one important difference - their wings are covered with small curls. Similar curls are on the paws. The body is wide and short. The head, chest and neck are absolutely smooth, without curls. Only a white curly dove has a crest on its head. The crown is sloping, the forehead is low. Eyes are orange. The wings and tail do not touch the floor surface. Plumage - black or white. The color should be saturated, white - without yellowness, black - with a green sheen.
Features of the breed. The breed is difficult to achieve the right color. It is necessary to withdraw it for several generations.
Breeding. The breed has a decorative orientation. Not demanding in care.
Nikolaev
High-breed breed bred in Nikolaev (Ukraine), at the end of the 19th century. The breed is obtained by crossing pigeons brought by sailors from abroad with local birds.
Description. They are distinguished by a dense plumage, streamlined body shape and powerful muscles. Case length - 25-30 cm. The plumage is cherry red, black, orange, white or gray with dark stripes. Head is rounded or oblong. The eyes are gray, black or dark yellow. The beak is white or milky. The wings have a dozen feathers that do not lie on the tail. Regardless of the main color, the tail is always white. Paws are short, covered with feathers above the knees.
Features of the breed. These pigeons are able to rise up without making circles. They reach great heights in the shortest possible time. With proper maintenance and training, in flight can be up to 10 hours. They can perform single flights, demonstrating various techniques. Able to soar, spreading wings wide. Or they can often wave them, steeply climbing up.
Breeding. The breed is bred for the sake of high flying qualities. Distinguish butt and sickle Nikolaev pigeons. The first rise only vertically. Sickle fly horizontally.
Volzhsky tape
The birthplace of this breed is the middle strip of Russia. In their creation, winged pigeons from Rzhevsk and Syzran were used. Decorative Volga pigeons inherited from the Volga red-breasted. The breed is considered one of the most beautiful. They have a memorable look - unusual even for pigeon connoisseurs.
Description. The plumage is cherry-white, brown-white or beige-white. The tail is wide, flat and uplifted. It is crossed by a white strip 1 cm wide. Round head, crown - flat. The eyes are dark, the beak is light pink. The body is short, chest and back are wide. Long wings, lowered below the tail. Paws are short, with plumage.
Features of the breed. Able to circular slow flight for 2-3 hours.
Breeding. This breed, being extremely beautiful, is bred not only for decorative, but also for flying qualities. With proper training and good maintenance, the Volga pigeons demonstrate excellent flying qualities.
More information about Volga pigeons is presented here.
Nezhinsky
Breeding time is unknown. It is believed that their homeland is Nizhyn (a city in Ukraine). The breed was practically worn out during the Second World War. Recovery began in the 70s. 20th century.
Description. The main plumage is white. The head, beard and tail are dark. The head is small, there is no forelock, the forehead is high, and the eyes are black. The beak is long and bright. Full rounded chest, wings tightly pressed against the body. Flat tail, short legs.
Features of the breed. They are distinguished by a beautiful flight - they fly "plate". So called small vicious circles. Their wings flutter, and their bodies heel alternately left and right. For a second, the birds freeze vertically. They sit down swiftly, folding their wings and making swinging movements.
Breeding. These pigeons are appreciated for their unpretentiousness, outward grace and unique flying qualities.
Izhevsk
This breed was bred at the beginning of the 20th century. The Perm breed was taken as a basis. Breeders tried to create a breed with improved flying qualities, and they managed to translate this into Izhevsk pigeons.
Description. In appearance, they look like Perm pigeons, but they do not have a forelock, and their legs are short - without feathers. They can have one-color plumage - white, black, yellow, red.They have a powerful body and strong muscles - these are excellent flyers. Body length - up to 34 cm. Beak is light, eyes are convex and dark. The wings are long, their tips touch the rectangular tail.
Features of the breed. Never fly away from home. They rise very quickly, and fly so high that they are hard to see from the ground. Good orienteering skills. Easily return to the house.
Breeding. Valued for excellent flight performance. The content is simple, the main thing is to properly feed and regularly train flying abilities.
Ochakovsky
In Ochakovo, they have long been breeding pigeons. The Ochakov breed was created by selection, the sickle Nikolaev pigeons were taken as the basis.
Description. Outwardly practically do not differ from Nikolaev. They have an elongated body and a slender camp. The head is small, and the eyes are bright. Dark pigeons with white eyes. The wings are elongated, reach the tail. Crested specimens are rare. But many individuals in the “stockings”.
Features of the breed. The main advantage of the breed is its beautiful flight. Able to soar in one place for hours. They soar upward, then rapidly sink. In the sky they keep alone.
Breeding. These unpretentious pigeons are bred for flying qualities.
Klaipeda
The breed was named after the city in which it was bred - Klaipeda (Lithuania). Not very common in Russia, mainly Latvian pigeon breeders hold them.
Description. The body is strong, long - 35-37 cm. The head is broad-faced. The forehead and beak form a straight line. The beak is small - 15-16 mm. The neck is small and the chest is wide. The wings are located on the same line with the tail. The plumage of fawn, white, red, black, gray shades. Neck with ripples - brown or gray. The ends of the wings are white. The eyes are light, small.
Features of the breed. They like to fly in groups of 2-4 birds. They prefer to climb to a great height and circling over their house. Some individuals may tumble, but then they spend less time in the sky.
Breeding. It is easy to breed these high-flying pigeons - they are unpretentious in maintenance, prolific and very viable.
Pakistani
This is one of the best flying breeds in the world. They have several subtypes that differ in appearance. There are with feathers on the legs, without feathers, there are species in which feathers reach a length of 20 cm.
Description. Like most flying breeds, they have a modest plumage. Round chest extending forward. A small elongated head. Black or orange eyes. Muscular legs of medium length. Long tail. The wings are black. The main plumage is white. Each individual has its own pattern of wings, which is preserved throughout life.
Features of the breed. They are distinguished by high duration and unusual flight style. Able to climb to great heights and perform somersaults.
Breeding. Unpretentious to the content. Valued for unique flying abilities.
Iranian
The birthplace of the first domestic pigeons is Persia. And today, pigeon breeding in Iran is a sacred tradition. Iranian war pigeons come in many varieties. They are called “martial” because of the flapping of wings that they publish in the air.
Description. A variety of plumage - changing color and pattern. More often, Iranian pigeons have red, yellow, bluish, almond and black plumage. Case length - 34-37 m. The head is rounded or oblong. There is a forelock or crest. The eyes are small; their color depends on the color of the feathers. The beak is pink or dark, long and curved. Feet - bare or with plumage.
Features of the breed. Many subspecies of the Iranian breed were bred, the most common - heady, Tehran high-flying, Tabriz, Hamadan. A common feature of all lively pigeons is the flight style. They roll over in the sky. 3-5 hours can fly, the most hardy - 8-10 hours.
Breeding. When growing Iranians, you need to devote a lot of time to training. 2-3 times a week they are trained in the morning - before feeding.
Hungarians
A relatively young breed - Hungarian pigeons began to breed officially in the early 40s. last century. Budapest stork pigeons served as breeding material.
Description. Simple exterior, no frills in appearance. The head is small, dense body. The eyes are large, the beak is small, triangular, down. Round head with a smooth forehead line. The tail does not touch the ground. The plumage of different colors, usually brown and gray, less often snow-white. Body length - 34-37 cm.
Features of the breed. High-temperamentous breed. It has a good memory, including topographic. Can return home for hundreds of kilometers. Flight duration without a break - 8 hours.
Breeding. The breed is not capricious, does not require special care, but the conditions should be decent. Bred, first of all, for the sake of good flying qualities. They can perfectly hatch and feed offspring.
Budapest
There is no data on by whom and when the Budapest breed was bred. It is believed that she was bred in Budapest.
Description. It has a medium-sized proportional body. Tight plumage. The color of the plumage is pure white, stork, spotted. The head is neat, smooth, the crown is slightly concave, the forehead gently descends to the beak. The eyes are bluish white. The beak is long, slightly bent. The chest is wide, the wings are adjacent to the body, touching the tail.
Features of the breed. They have a lively temperament. They have a high, circular, long flight.
Breeding. These are decorative-flying birds that do not require special conditions for keeping.
English tippler
Bred in the UK in the 19th century. They were created on the basis of the English turman and French high-flying pigeons. It is rare in Russia.
Description. The body is medium sized, streamlined. It features a wide chest and a smooth head. Bright eyes, a long beak. The wings are powerful, tightly pressed to the hull. Plumage of different shades - black, gray, yellow, red, blue.
English high-flying tippler, suits - gray-motley.
Features of the breed. They have a sports body structure. They are distinguished by great endurance. Perfectly fly in a flock, cutting circles. They don’t need wind - tipplers can soar effortlessly.
It was the English tipplers who set the record for the duration of stay in the air - it amounted to 20 hours 40 minutes.
Breeding. The breed is often used in racing flights. Special conditions of detention do not require.
Perm high-flying
The breed is named after its place of origin - it was bred in Perm. When crossing, local and imported birds were used.
Description. Plumage is diverse, there are monophonic birds, and there is a pattern. Strong body, strong muscles. The beak is light, medium in size.
Perm white-headed high-flying pigeons
Features of the breed. Fly at very high altitudes - alone and in groups. Flight duration - up to 12 hours. Flight style - circular. Tied to dovecote, have an excellent orientation. The eyes are bulging, black. Long wings touch the tail.
It is very difficult to find purebred Permyaks today, even eminent breeders mainly cull them.
Breeding. Birds are bred for flying properties. Perm pigeons are used for sports. They have a strong attachment to the pigeon. This breed is bred throughout Russia.
Belgian
The Belgian breed is one of the best among sports pigeons. The breed in Belgium has been improved since the 19th century.
Description. Strongly knocked down case. The round head is small. It features a powerful neck. Well developed chest.
Features of the breed. They have excellent aerodynamics due to the rigid and dense plumage. The tail is thin and narrow. Paws are powerful and short. The eyes are dark, almost black.
Among the most popular Belgian breeds are Antwerp pigeons. They are the ones who most often win sports.
Breeding. The content of sports breeds is practically no different from the content of decorative pigeons.
Barb
Unusual decorative breed from the group of warty pigeons.
Description. The bird has a distinctive feature - special skin growths around the eyes. The forehead is convex, the beak is small. Plumage - black, red, white.
Features of the breed. These pigeons are never colorful, only monophonic.
Breeding. To preserve the decorative qualities of the barbs, they must be kept clean.
Bohemian space-footed magic swallow
The breed with a unique plumage was bred in the Czech Republic - in Bohemia.
Description. The Bohemian swallow has a large physique, on the back of the head - lush feathers. On the legs - plumage. On the wings and legs - an amazing chess pattern. On the head there is a mark in the form of a cockade.
Features of the breed. The breed is very elegant, for its unique beauty it is called "magic".
Breeding. The breed is decorative - it is bred for the sake of a beautiful, unusual plumage.
Saxon priest
A real decoration for dovecote. The breed comes from Germany. It was introduced on German soil - in Saxony.
Description. The bird looks unusual. She has rich feathers. On the legs - extremely long feathers, and on the head - two crests. A characteristic feature of the breed of the Saxon priest is a white forehead.
Features of the breed. Whatever the main color, the forehead always remains white. The plumage is like a monastic hood - hence the name.
Breeding. The breed requires care and attention in order to maintain its unusual beauty.
Peacock dove
The origin of the peacock pigeons is not known for certain, but it is assumed that they come from India. The breed owes its name to a magnificent tail.
Description. The body is round, compact. The back is concave. The head is small, without marks. The eyes are big, dark. The beak is small, reddish or flesh-colored. Widely spaced red paws. Plumage color from white-yellow to gray-blue.
Features of the breed. Not adapted for long flights. A graceful bird that loves to demonstrate its beauty - spreading its magnificent tail, freezes.
Breeding. These beautiful birds are usually used at festive events and at weddings. You can teach to make circular flights.
Berlin Long-Billed
Very rare German breed. You can meet her only in a few cities in Germany. The breed was bred in Berlin in the 19th century.
Description. They have a slender posture, a vertically located head and body. The neck is also vertically located. Beak - thin and elongated.
Features of the breed. They fly great in a flock. Good climb.
Breeding. The breed is decorative, contain pigeons in spacious rooms with cells for each pigeon.
King breed
This meat breed was bred by American breeders using carrier pigeons, Romans and Maltese.
Description. The dominant color is white. Less common are silver, red, and black pigeons. The head is large with a strong beak. Eyes are yellow or black. Thick long neck, wide chest. The small tail is raised up. Paws without plumage.
Features of the breed. The weight of the pigeon is 700-800 g. The maximum is 1-1.5 kg. This is one of the best meat breeds.
Breeding. The breed is bred for meat and decoration. Demanding on the conditions of detention and feeding regimen.
Modern veterinary drugs extend the life of domestic pigeons up to 25 years.
The variety of pigeons is impressive - different breeds, different plumage, appearance and features of practical application. Everyone who is interested in pigeons can choose their own pets, based on their interests.
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