The domestication of animals is a human activity that has been going on for centuries, so more than one species is closely related to humans due to this action. By breeding animals, man has somehow managed to bring about a selection within the species, which in this case would be unnatural. This practice has made it possible to obtain a varied number of breeds, that is, animals of a particular species which express various forms in their appearance due to the selective crosses which are carried out and which are inherited by the offspring.
One of the groups of domesticated animals throughout history is birds, especially the pigeon (Columba livia), many breeds of which have been produced for different purposes, such as the Valencian figurine pigeon . In this PlanetAnimal sheet, we are going to tell you about it! so, happy reading!
Origin
- Europe
- Spain
Origin of the Valencian figurine pigeon or figurita Valencia
This breed is a variant of the feral pigeon species (Columba livia), which has been heavily domesticated and has spread virtually worldwide. In particular, the Valencia figurine was produced in the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula, Spain, specifically in Valencia, Catalonia and the Balearic Islands.
This variant was on the verge of extinction, however, a pigeon fancier dedicated himself to its recovery and it is currently one of the autochthonous breeds of pigeons of Spain with significant growth and promotion at international level .
Characteristics of the Figurita Valencia pigeon or Valencian figurine
The characteristics that define the Valencian figurine pigeon are the following:
- He has a particularly upright posture, which gives him an erect appearance.
- It belongs to the group of tie pigeons, that is, they have a curl of feathers that goes from the throat to the center of the chest.
- Its size is small, in fact, it is one of the smallest breeds. It weighs between 150 and 170 g.
- The head is small, relatively broad and angular in outline. The neck is slightly arched, slender and taut.
- Eyes are large and orange or reddish in color, except in white specimens, which are dark.
- The beak is tiny and the tip is blunt.
- The legs are strong, red in color, and may or may not have feathers, but the tips of the toes are always bare.
- The wings are of medium size, when at rest they are completely attached to the body and almost reach the end of the tail.
- In terms of coloring, it can have different types such as white, gray, brown, greenish gray or reddish gray, among others. In addition to various patterns, such as: totally white; white with colored tail; colored head, neck and tail or colored whole body.
Habitat of the Figurita Valencia or Valencian figurine
The species from which the Valencian figurine pigeon breed originated originally inhabited cliff areas close to the sea or rocky areas with crevices where it could develop its nests, usually avoiding areas of vegetation lush regions of Asia, Europe and Africa. However, with its domestication and introduction almost everywhere in the world, its habitat has expanded considerably, easily adapting to rural and urban areas.
As we have already mentioned, this breed is native to the Mediterranean region of the Iberian Peninsula, so it is here that it is most present. However, being a domesticated animal, it is also found in other countries such as France, Germany and Holland.
Habits of the Figurita Valencia or Valencian figurine pigeon
" The Valencian figurine pigeon is described as a good-natured and generally docile bird. Due to its typical posture, the gait of this bird is often described as a soldier, since, in addition, its gait is elegant and it seems to walk almost on tiptoe."
This pigeon is described as having a cheerful, graceful and lively demeanor. Although it can develop steady flight, it does not do so over long distances and therefore does not particularly excel in this area.
Reproduction of Figurita Valencia or Valencian figurine
Reproductive aspects of the breed are generally similar to those of the species. However, it is not so common to hear the beating of the wings, except when the male is courting the female, for which he beats his wings. In addition, the process is also characterized by the active pursuit of his mate until he successfully mounts her.
The Valencia figurita pigeon, which is a small bird, lays between one and two eggs, which are hatched by the male and the female. The chicks require good care, as in some cases they are not viable and die.
Power supply of the Figurita Valencia or Valencian figurine
As for pigeons in general, the breed of figurine pigeons mainly feeds on different types of seeds or cereals, such as corn, rice, barley, sorghum, peas, sunflower, hemp and beans. It also feeds on oats and certain fruits to a lesser extent.
On the other hand, it is important that they have a large water source, because they also like to bathe in it. Don't miss this other article where we talk in depth about what do pigeons eat.
State of conservation of the Figurita Valencia or Valencian figurine
The Columba livia species, to which the Valencian pigeon breed belongs, is considered of Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). However, the breeds are not included in the criteria for determining their conservation status as they are domesticated animals, but it is known that this particular breed was on the verge of extinction and then experienced a significant recovery thanks to its breeding in Spain, so that today it is one of the most recognized breeds in exhibitions.
At PlanèteAnimale, we always suggest that all pets have the ideal conditions to thrive and stay he althy.Thus, space, food, water and shelter are absolutely essential to them. It is essential to keep in mind that birds need to fly to satisfy all their needs. In captivity, this activity is made very difficult if there is not enough space, so we encourage you to think about it before deciding to adopt a figurine pigeon or any other bird. It is not at all appropriate to keep these animals, or any other, confined in a cage. If, for example, you find an injured pigeon, you can collect it until it recovers and, if possible, release it into the wild
Pictures of Figurita Valencia or Valencian Figurine
