10 Most Beautiful Pigeons In The World.
Number 10, Archangel Pigeon.
The Archangel is a breed of fancy pigeon, notable for the metallic sheen of its feathers.
It is kept as an ornamental or fancy breed, valued for its unusual appearance.
Archangels are small, weighing about 12 oz, with unfeathered legs and dark orange eyes.
The body of the bird is bronze or gold with wings that are either black, white, or blue.
Number 9, Jacobin Pigeon.
The Jacobin is a medium sized pigeon, quite slender and tall.
It is characterised by a distinctive muff or cowl of feathers which forms a rosette
on both sides of the pigeon's head.
This is made up of a mane at the back of the head, the hood over the top and a "cravat"
of two lines of feather running down the front of the chest.
There is currently a trend towards breeding Jacobins with longer necks which then hold
the hood off the shoulders.
This is said to better display the hood.
Number 8, African Green Pigeon.
Usually found in small groups, foraging in trees for fruit, adult African green pigeons
have maroon patches on the top of their wings and the juveniles have an olive color.
The upperparts are grayish-green to yellowish-green; the thighs are yellow; and the feet and bill
are red with the bill having a white tip.
Their green plumage is great camouflage and they are fast fliers.
Number 7, Fantail.
The Fantail is a popular breed of fancy pigeon.
It is characterised by a fan-shaped tail composed of 30 to 40 feathers, abnormally more than
most members of the pigeon family, which usually have 12 to 14 feathers.
The breed is thought to have originated in Pakistan, India, China or Spain.
These smaller, attractive pigeons are often used as "dove" releases at weddings and other
ceremonies because they can be trained as homing pigeons and will return to a roost
after release.
Number 6, Victoria Crowned Pigeon.
Named for the British Monarch Queen Victoria, the Victoria Crowned Pigeon is without doubt
a royal bird.
Its dusty blue-grey feathers may remind one of the pigeons found on any city street,
but the Crowned Pigeon's elegant blue lace crest, scarlet eyes, and rakish black mask
are unlike anything you'll find pecking around in the city park.
Add in the fact that this largest of all pigeons is nearly the size of a turkey, and you know
you're seeing something special.
Number 5, Green Imperial Pigeon.
The Green Imperial Pigeon is a pigeon which is a widespread resident breeding bird in
tropical southern Asia from India east to Indonesia.
Its back, wings and tail are metallic green.
Meanwhile, the head and underparts are white, apart from maroon undertail coverts.
It is usually seen alone, in pairs or in small groups of 3-5 birds.
But occasionally, flocks of up to 60 birds can be seen at fruiting trees and at roost.
Number 4, Spinifex Pigeon.
A handsome, reddish species, Spinifex Pigeon is mostly ruddy-coloured and has a pointed
rufous topknot and a striking face pattern: Bare red skin surrounds a pale eye, and the
face is striped black and white, with some subtle blue markings too.
Bold black bars are spread across the wings and sides of the mantle.
It is inconspicuous when it forages on the ground, and is well camoufl aged, as its reddish
colouration mirrors the red dirt and the rocky outcrops within the arid landscapes it inhabits.
Number 3, Nicobar Pigeon.
The Nicobar pigeon is one of the closest living relatives to the dodo, a bird which is now
extinct.
This pigeon is found on the small islands and coastal regions from the Nicobar Islands,
east through the Malay Archipelago, to the Solomons and Palau.
This large pigeon, measuring 16 inches in length has a grey head, like the upper neck
plumage, which turns into green and copper hackles.
The tail is very short and pure white, while the rest of its plumage is metallic green.
Number 2, Pink Necked Green Pigeon.
Believe it or not, Pink-Necked Green Pigeons are really this colour, and they are really
pigeons.
Like so many other animal species the males are the ones that have the bright colouring,
while the females are your more drab green coloured.
This tells us that this bright wardrobe helps the guys pick up the pretty, little green
ladies.
The brighter you are the better your chances of finding the perfect mate.
Number 1, Rose-Crowned Fruit Dove.
Pretty as a sunset cocktail, the rose-crowned fruit dove is a native Australian species.
Named for the distinctive pink patch that caps their foreheads, these beautiful birds
belong to the large genus of fruit doves called Ptilinopus, along with around 50 other species
native to Southeast Asia and Oceania.
While the males and the females both develop the pink cap, the males are adorned with the
best colour patterns, with an array of bright orange, more pink, and yellow plumage sitting
below their grey chests.
The males use their pink caps as part of their courting displays, bowing their heads low
like common pigeons do to give the females a good view