Pigeons are one of the most amazing and beautiful birds on our planet. In the world there are a large number of species of these beautiful birds, differing in the color of their plumage, the general appearance, flight qualities. In our article, we will focus on unusual pigeons created by nature.
Kinds of pigeons
Developing new territories, the Europeans transported with them all the good, including domestic animals. So pigeons spread throughout the planet. There are 4 types of these birds: postal, flight, meat and decorative. Consider each in more detail.
Postage
Previously, these birds were used as a means of communication. Mail pigeons have a truly extraordinary ability for orientation and fast flight.
Find out how pigeon mail worked before.
They can reach speeds of up to 80 km / h. Excellent orientation in space, the ability to easily find the way back, regardless of the magnitude of the distance, is a hereditary feature. 
Flight
These breeds have a special beauty of flight. They have their own style of "air dance".
The entire flight subgroup is divided into types:
- high-flying - they are able to fly up to 15 hours, and at such a height that they are not visible from the ground;
- martial - fly low, during the flight roll over the head and tail;
- roller - different way of turning over the wing, as if screwing the screw.
We advise you to read about what diseases you can get from pigeons, how to find out the sex of a pigeon, what is the life expectancy of pigeons in the wild and at home, how to properly and safely discourage pigeons from the balcony, where you can see pigeons chicks.
Decorative
These breeds are characterized by an unusual appearance and a variety of bright color plumage: from blue to green and even bright red. 
Decorative birds are very unpretentious and can even be kept in indoor aviaries. These birds are used at weddings, during circus and theatrical performances.
Meat
In ancient times, pigeons were divorced just for eating. These birds were served to the imperial table in ancient Rome. They all have a unique plumage, but most of all they appreciate their delicious meat, from which they prepare the most delicate dishes.
Familiarize yourself with the views of the most popular meat pigeons, as well as tips on their breeding.Pigeon meat has special dietary properties: it contains a large amount of protein, is easily digested and is recommended for the prevention of many diseases. It contains vitamins A, B, PP, as well as trace elements: calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, iron, magnesium, zinc and other substances useful for the body.
During the war years, pigeon saved people from starvation. For food are suitable young pigeons age 5 weeks. By this time, the chicks are gaining the desired weight, and carcasses are easier to process.Did you know? Muslims have a dove - a sacred bird. They treat them very respectfully and never kill.
Top 10 most unusual pigeons
There are many amazing breeds of pigeons in the world. The most beautiful of them take part in bird beauty contests. Let's admire the original and beautiful views that are among the ten most unusual.
Ruffed
The most unusual is the maned pigeon - this rare bird lives in small flocks or couples in the jungle on the uninhabited islands of Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. 
The body length of an adult bird is about 40 cm. It is distinguished by an emerald necklace around the neck of long feathers. The tail is white. Paws are red.
The bird has powerful, muscular legs. Pigeons mostly travel on the ground and travel long distances in search of food. They feed on berries, fruits, various seeds and small insects. The bird's stomach is capable of digesting hard nuts with a shell. They fly very rarely.
Important! Without food, a pigeon can live for about two weeks, but without water it will die in a few days.
Birds form married couples once and for life. For the nesting choose impassable places in the middle of the forest. The parents lay the laid egg in turns, two weeks each. The life of a maned pigeon is about 12 years. This species is listed as "endangered." 
African green
These birds prefer tropical and subtropical thickets of sub-Saharan Africa as habitats. Dense vegetation serves as an excellent camouflage for them, in the foliage they are hardly noticeable. Bird feathers are colored green with an olive or yellowish tinge. A distinctive feature of this genus is a special notch, which is located in the third flywheel from the edge.
We recommend reading about how to build a pigeon house, as well as how to make a pigeon feeder.
Doves have a short tail, there is a plumage on the legs. The length of their body reaches 30 cm. The diet of African greens is made up of fig tree fruits and fruits. The food is swallowed by birds. During the flight, they make peculiar whistling sounds, because of which they are sometimes called whistling. 
Green rosewood
These spectacular birds are found throughout Southeast Asia: in parts of Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia and Myanmar. They received their name due to the unusual multi-colored color of feathers, which serves as camouflage and makes the bird inconspicuous among the vegetation of the tropical forest.
Most of the time birds spend on trees and very rarely fall to the ground, mainly to drink water. In the mating season, when the couple begins to nest, the male and female build a very simple and transparent nest of thin branches.
The male collects nesting building material, and the female takes the twigs and builds a nest of them. As a rule, the dove hatches two eggs. 
Peacock
This beautiful decorative bird is of different shades, but most often it is white. A distinctive feature of this breed is a wide and lush tail, like a peacock.
Read more about how to breed peacocks at home.Thanks to their snow-white plumage, these birds become participants in circus shows and wedding events.
Fan Crowned
The majestic rare bird of the pigeon family was chosen by the swampy forests of New Guinea. Outwardly, these birds look like pheasants. They differ in large size up to 75 cm in length and weighing up to 2.5 kg.
Did you know? The first post pigeons are known from ancient times, they were used in ancient Greece and Rome to transmit messages from the battlefield.Attractive is the original tuft on the head in the form of loose feathers. Birds spend most of their time on the ground. They take off only in cases of danger. They feed on fallen fruits, seeds and berries.
Bohemian swallow
These thoroughbred pigeons come from the Czech Republic. They have a large physique with feathers covered with thick feathers. They belong to the group of colored pigeons: they are white-brown or white-black.
Did you know? The speed of a pigeon flight can reach 65 km / h.But the main feature of this type is clearly delineated chess ornament on the wings, which attracts attention.
Two-color fruit
Two-colored fruit - a large bird 37-44 cm long, two-color coloring, with a wingspan of up to 45 cm. It inhabits rainforests, mangroves and bushes on small islands and in coastal regions of Southeast Asia.
We advise you to get acquainted with various types of stately pigeons.
Its color consists of two colors - white and black. Primary color is white. On tips of wings and tail black plumage. The legs are gray. In search of food, fly to other islands. Eat fruit and nuts. They nest in colonies, build nests on trees, on coconut plantations. 
English trumpeter
The eighth place is occupied by the English trumpeter - a decorative breed bred in England. They got their name because of the sound of cooing, which resembles the sounds of a trumpet, drum or gurgling.
Important! Pigeons, which are contained in conditions close to natural, and feed on natural fodder, produce eggs and meat with higher palatability than those that are grown in the intensive conditions of the poultry farms, therefore, such products are readily purchased at higher prices.In many countries they are called drummers. Doves are medium in size. They are distinguished by the presence of a high collar, which forms a semicircle on the back of the head. Have on the beak forelock.
Jacobin
The Jacobin dove is an ancient ornamental breed originally from India. The descendant of the blue dove. Jacobins have a slender physique. Their breasts are raised high, their shoulders are narrow. The head is small, round.
You probably will be interested to read about the content of domestic pigeons.
The bird is distinguished by a feathered collar above the head, the colors of which are diverse: from white, yellow, red, brown to black. The pigeon of this species flies badly, has a fearful character. Because of the "wig" that closes his eyes, these birds often become victims of various predators. 
Saxon Field
This species was derived by breeding for several years. It is a descendant of the blue dove. In the wild, they settle on coastal cliffs, in mountain gorges or on steep river banks, often near agricultural land.
Did you know? Post pigeons are the most expensive in the world. Chicks with good genetics cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.In nature, these birds usually live no more than 3-5 years, at home they live to 15 years, and sometimes to 35 years. These are amazing and beautiful birds living on our planet. No wonder man chose the dove as a symbol of peace, goodness and family.
