Pigeons are often seen as unremarkable city birds, scavenging for food in urban parks. However, the world of fancy pigeons is an entirely different story. These domesticated birds, bred for their unique features and ornamental beauty, showcase some of the strangest and most fascinating traits found in the animal kingdom.
From curly feathers and inflated necks to elaborate crests and massive foot feathers, these pigeons are living works of art. Let’s explore 12 of the most bizarre and extraordinary fancy pigeon breeds, each with its own astonishing physical characteristics and rich history.
What Makes It Strange? Naturally curled feathers that give it an elegant, ruffled look.
The Frillback pigeon looks like it has just stepped out of a beauty salon. Its wing shield feathers and sometimes its foot feathers curl outward, creating a delicate, frilled effect. This rare feather mutation is highly sought after in pigeon shows.
Origin: Middle East and Europe
Special Feature: Curls make up 50% of its competition score
Common Colors: Red, white, blue, black
Why It Stands Out: The curls look almost artificial, as if the pigeon was permed!
What Makes It Strange? Thick, fleshy eye and beak wattles that develop over two years.
Barb pigeonThe Barb (also called the English Barb) is a breed of fancy pigeon developed over many years of selective breeding.Barbs, along with other varieties of domesticated pigeons, are all descendants from the rock pigeon (a livia). The Barb pigeon has one of the most unusual faces in the pigeon world. The thick, red-orange wattles around its eyes and beak make it look almost prehistoric. Despite its odd appearance, this breed has been popular since the 1600s.This breed was referred to by Shakespeare.It was also referred to with an illustration in Charles Darwin's Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication. It has been marked as cruel by many organisations due to the size of its beak which means it has trouble feeding its young and surviving.
Origin: England, but linked to North Africa
Special Feature: The wattles grow larger over time
Size: Small to medium
Why It Stands Out: It looks like a pigeon wearing round, fleshy goggles!
What Makes It Strange? Its feathers are coated in a natural, powdery frost-like layer.
The Ice pigeon (Polish: Lazurek; German: Eistaube) is a breed of fancy pigeon developed over many years of selective breeding. Ice pigeons, along with other varieties of domesticated pigeons, are all descendants from the rock pigeon (Columba livia).Unlike the typical city pigeon, the Ice pigeon has an ethereal, icy-blue appearance due to a special powder-down coating on its feathers. This gives the bird a ghostly, shimmering look.
This pigeon is a fancy bird-known for its ice-blue coloration. The head of this pigeon mutation is somewhat oval, and have smooth head. It has a few assortments, which are varying in the sort and shade of their wing design. Yet, the essential shade of these feathered creatures is a pale dim. Eyes of these types of pigeons are of various shading relying upon the assortment. The dark banned and checked adaptation has orange to yellow orange shaded eyes. And every single other assortment have bruised eyes.
In 1846, Charles Darwin is known to have crossbred the Ice pigeon in order to ascertain colour patterns.This work came just three years before his groundbreaking publication, On the Origin of Species.
Origin: Germany
Color Effect: Silvery-blue “frosted” feathers
Why It Stands Out: It looks like a winter bird straight out of a fairytale!
What Makes It Strange? An enormously inflated neck that looks like a balloon.
The English Short-faced Tumbleris a breed of fancy pigeon developed over many years of selective breeding.English Short-faced Tumblers along with other varieties of domesticated pigeons are all descendants of the rock dove (Columba livia)The Pouter or Cropper pigeons are domesticated varieties of the rock dove, Columba livia, characterized by a very large, inflatable crop.They are kept as ornamental or fancy breeds, valued for their unusual appearance. There are many varieties of pouter with little in common except for the nature of the crop. The origin of the breed group is unknown, but Pouters have been bred in Europe for at least 400 years.
Imagine a pigeon with a huge, round neck bigger than its own head. That’s a Pouter pigeon! These birds can puff up their crops (throat pouches) to enormous sizes, creating a top-heavy, almost comical look.
Types: English Pouter (largest), Brunner Pouter, Pygmy Pouter
Special Feature: Inflates its throat for courtship and dominance
Why It Stands Out: It looks like a pigeon that swallowed a basketball!
What Makes It Strange? A tiny, almost non-existent head on a broad body.
The English Short-faced Tumbleris a breed of fancy pigeon developed over many years of selective breeding.English Short-faced Tumblers along with other varieties of domesticated pigeons are all descendants of the rock dove (Columba livia).The English Short-Faced Tumbler has been bred to have the smallest head possible. Its head is so tiny compared to its large, round body that it almost looks like an optical illusion. Historically, it was also an aerial acrobat, performing somersaults in mid-air.There has even been a U.K.-based club dedicated to the breed since 1886.
A Budapest Short-faced pigeon, left, and an English Short-faced pigeon.
Origin: England
Unique Trait: Miniature skull with a large, rounded frame
Why It Stands Out: It looks like a pigeon with an invisible head!
What Makes It Strange? Massive, decorative feathers on its feet—sometimes bigger than its wings!
The English Trumpeter is a breed of fancy pigeon developed over many years of selective breeding.English Trumpeters, along with other varieties of domesticated pigeons, are all descendants from the rock pigeon (Columba livia). This is one of the most popular breeds in the USA.The English Trumpeter is regarded as one of the most ornamental breeds of fancy pigeon.
An English Trumpeter pigeon, left, and a Jacobin pigeon.
The most distinguishing feature of this breed are the very large muffs on its feet, Its giant foot muffs make it look like it's wearing feathered slippers.which often grow to sizes close to its flight-feathers. Combining a tuft, crest and large muffs on their feet, they are challenging to breed. They are bred in a number of colours which are listed under self, splash and baldhead.
Feathering: Extremely long and thick foot feathers
Origin: England, refined in the U.S.
Why It Stands Out: Walking with such long feathers is a challenge!
What Makes It Strange? A pigeon that looks like a tiny hen.
The German Modena (German: Deutsche Modeneser) is a breed of fancy pigeon developed over many years of selective breeding.German Modenas, along with other varieties of domesticated pigeons, are all descendants of the rock dove (Columba livia).
The German Modena has a short, round body and upright stance, making it resemble a small, plump chicken. It is one of the most unusual body shapes found in pigeons.
Origin: Italy (Modena), refined in Germany
Why It Stands Out: Looks more like a farm chicken than a pigeon!
What Makes It Strange? A fully circular hood of feathers around its head.
The Old Dutch Capuchine is a breed of fancy pigeon developed over many years of selective breeding. Old Dutch Capuchines, along with other varieties of domesticated pigeons, are all descendants of the rock dove (Columba livia).
The Capuchin pigeon has an elegant feather hood that wraps around its head like a monk’s cloak. This gives it a sophisticated, regal look.This breed of pigeon is known for its head crest. It is famous in Biggleswade, Malaysia and Singapore.
Origin: India, brought to Holland in the 1500s
Why It Stands Out: It looks like it’s wearing a feathery hoodie!
What Makes It Strange? Has three layers of thick foot feathers and striking color patterns.
The Saxon Fairy Swallow is a breed of fancy pigeon developed over many years of selective breeding. Saxon Fairy Swallows, along with other varieties of domesticated pigeons, are all descendants from the rock pigeon (Columba livia).The Saxon Swallows and Wing Pigeons have various markings and patterns (spot marking, cap marking etc.).The Saxon Fairy Swallow is one of the most elaborate fancy pigeon breeds, with extra-thick foot plumage and a stunning color contrast between its body, wings, and cap.
Why It Stands Out: It looks like a pigeon wearing stylish boots!
What Makes It Strange? A ball-shaped head with an ultra-short beak.
A breed of fancy pigeon developed by selective breeding, it has descended from the rock dove as with other types of domesticated pigeons; it is thought to have first been brought into Europe from Tunis, Africa, where the type originated and were first imported into England in the late 19th century.They were originally referred to as "Foreign Owls", as a similar type of pigeon had already been known in England, which upon the importation of the African Owl became known as the "English Owl".The main difference between the two types of owl was that the African or "Foreign" variety was noticeably smaller.
The African Owl pigeon has an extremely round face with a stumpy beak, making it look like a tiny owl.As with other types of "owl" pigeons, the African Owl has a crest of feathers running down the front of its breast, which is called the jabot, also known as a tie or cravat.The body of an African Owl is short and plump, and the head is smooth and unadorned with rough feathers. The beak of this breed is short and stout, and it is this beak which gives the Owl type their name, being turned down in shape
Origin: Tunisia
Why It Stands Out: It looks like an owl in pigeon form!
What Makes It Strange? A white body with a perfectly contrasting cap and a neat crest.
The Nun is a breed of fancy pigeon developed through many years of selective breeding. It was known as the Dutch Shell Pigeon in continental Europe. Nuns, along with other varieties of domesticated pigeons, are all descendants from the rock pigeon (Columba livia).although as with all domestic pigeons they are descended from the rock pigeon (Columba livia).They have mostly white bodies and are designated according to the color of their head, for example, a black headed Nun, or a yellow headed Nun.Only the head, tail and the flight feathers are colored.Nuns are one breed in a group of pigeons who fly at high altitudes, along with types of tumblers and the magpie pigeon.
The Nun pigeon is named for its resemblance to a monk’s habit, with its white body and dark head marking.
The British Nun Club standard for the Nun states that the ideal size for male Nuns should be 9 inches (23 cm) from the top of the bird's head to their feet, and 10 inches (25 cm) from the front of the chest to its tail. Female and young Nuns should be roughly the same size. The beak should be straight but stout, and the eyes a pearly white.
Why It Stands Out: It looks like a religious pigeon dressed for prayer!
What Makes It Strange? A white body with only the head and tail colored.
The Helmet is a breed of fancy pigeon developed over many years of selective breeding.Helmets, along with other varieties of domesticated pigeons, are all descendants from the rock pigeon (Columba livia). The breed has medium face, short face, plain-head and crested varieties.Helmet pigeons have been referenced since the early 15th century and appear to have origins in Germany. The modern varieties were refined in the latter 20th century.The Helmet pigeon appears as if it's wearing a tiny helmet, with only its head and tail having contrasting colors.
Why It Stands Out: It looks like a pigeon with a tiny motorcycle helmet!
Fancy pigeons are proof of how selective breeding can create some of the strangest and most beautiful birds in the world. Whether admired in exhibitions, competitions, or by collectors, these pigeons are true avian masterpieces.
Which fancy pigeon amazed you the most? Let us know!
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