There are over 300 species of pigeons, as well as wild pigeons. Doves were pigeons! People have been breeding rock pigeons of their choice for thousands of years to produce over 300 species of domestic pigeons (such as fantails, king pigeons, Birmingham rollers, and many more). The popular pigeon supplies are secured.
Domestic pigeons:
Hundreds of species of pigeons are raised at home – for sport, recreation, and food. When these domestic pigeons are accidentally or deliberately released from the wild, they cannot feed themselves as the wild pigeons can do. These are the pigeons we often redeem and bring to Paloma.
King pigeons:
The king pigeons are domesticated (squab). They are the largest of both wild pigeons and homing pigeons, and they are bright white with pink beaks. They are sometimes bought and released by well-meaning people who “save” them from the markets for live animals. Unfortunately, the King Pigeons face some death in the wild as they do not have the proper skills to fly or survive. However, they make excellent pets and aviary inhabitants. They are soft and usually in contact with people.
Racing and homing pigeons:
They come in various colours but are usually blue (like wild pigeons) or white. These pigeons are chased into competitions, used as “doves” at weddings and events, or kept as pets. They are muscular and robust flyers with a strong sense of home and are trained to return to their high places after a race or event. However, the Homers and runners are lost or injured. Because they have a strap, you can trace their identity through the information on the band. Sometimes a lost pigeon will look like a wild herd, and you may occasionally see a tied pigeon eating with its wild companions.
Fancy pigeons:
Fancy pigeons are a special breed kept by hobby pigeons as well as fanciers. Few hobbyists enter their pigeons in competitions, such as in public squares. Some keep beautiful pigeons as pets. There are many beautiful pigeons, including breeds such as puffins, tumblers, and owls.
Feral pigeons:
Most of the pigeons you will encounter in urban or suburban areas are wild rock pigeons. These are common blue varieties of pigeons that live in buildings and feed in public squares. They often live in barns or near bridges and on natural rocks in the countryside. They eat chips, breadcrumbs, food thrown away by restaurants and supermarkets, and bird seeds distributed by bird feeders.
Band-tailed pigeons:
Band-tailed pigeons are feral pigeons native to North America and the Pacific coast. As the name suggests, these pigeons have a long tail with grey and white stripes, as well as a shiny neck stripe. They are 14 to 18 inches long with a bright yellow bill and legs. Striped pigeons do not have color variations like rock doves. These pigeons live on the edge of the forest and in woodlands, both coniferous and deciduous, and spend most of their time in trees.
