Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
The American Show Racer pigeon (also known as the Show Pen Racer, and nicknamed the "Bird of Dignity.") [1] is a breed of domestic pigeon that began in the early 1950s with the finest Racing Homers, selectively bred for their breed type. [clarification needed] Pigeon historian Wendell Levi mentions Show Pen Racers in his book The Pigeon. [2] He ...
Duncan Ferguson, former Everton player, enjoys the sport of pigeon racing. [30] Queen Elizabeth II was a fourth generation member of the Royal Family who has enjoyed the sport of pigeon racing. [31] [32] The first racing pigeons at Sandringham were a gift to the future Edward VII by King Leopold II of Belgium in 1886.
Pigeon racing is the sport of releasing specially trained homing pigeons, which then return to their homes over a carefully measured distance.The time it takes the animal to cover the specified distance is measured and the bird's rate of travel is calculated and compared with all of the other pigeons in the race to determine which animal returned at the highest speed.
These groupings, which can be somewhat arbitrary, are useful mainly in the context of a pigeon show. All the pigeons of all the breeds in the flying/sporting group compete for the best flying/sporting of show which then customarily competes against the best fancy and best utility to pick an overall show champion.
Squabs have been used as a food in many nations for centuries. [1] They were bred to breed and grow quickly. [2] Because they are bred for squab production, conformation to a show standard is usually deemed unimportant. Utility pigeons are one of three main breed groupings used by pigeon fanciers. The other two are Flying/Sporting and Fancy.
The German Beauty Homer is a breed of fancy pigeon developed over many years of selective breeding, from German racing pigeons. [1] German Beauty Homers along with other varieties of domesticated pigeons are all descendants of the rock dove (Columba livia). The breed was first developed around one hundred years ago. [2]
There are at least four main types of competitive pigeon sport: Pigeon racing; Tumbling; Highflying; Tippler (Endurance) Though not quite a sport, fancy breeds of pigeons are also bred to standards and judged in a competitive fashion. Levi in his book The Pigeon describes all aspects of pigeon keeping.
In Wendell Levi's book The Pigeon, reference is made to pigeons with this tumbling ability existing in India before the year 1590. Charles Darwin, in his book The Origin of Species , makes reference to the Short-faced Tumbler which was a popular breed during his lifetime, and still can be found exhibited at pigeon shows today.