✅ Peacock Tail Pigeon

Human beings over time have established special relationships with many animals, which, without a doubt, has caused significant changes in the dynamics of these species, not only with regard to their behavior, but even their physical characteristics. This last aspect was possible thanks to various selective crossings carried out with individuals of a species, which make it possible to express certain characteristics of interest sometimes not very present. When these crosses are made, they give rise to individuals with different phenotypes, however of the same species, which is why the term race is used to designate these descendants.This is how we find the breeds of horses, dogs, cats, fish and birds, among others.

On this occasion, we would like to present to you in PlanèteAnimal a file on a breed of bird known as the fantail pigeon, fantail pigeon or fantail pigeon. We invite you to continue reading to learn about the characteristics of the Peacock Tail Pigeon.

Origin

Africa
Asia
Europe
Afghanistan
Andorra
Anguilla
Austria
Azerbaijan
Belgium
Belarus
Bulgaria
Cape Verde
Cyprus
Croatia
Egypt
United Arab Emirates
Spain
Estonia
Finland
France
Greece
Iran
Ireland
Italy
Jordan
Latvia
Lebanon
Libya
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Mali
M alta
Morocco
Mauritania
Moldova
Chad

Taxonomic classification of the peacock tail pigeon

The peacock-tailed pigeon is a breed of pigeon, i.e. a variant of the species Columba livia, which is commonly called a domestic pigeon, rock pigeon or rock pigeon. Some reports^{[1]indicate that it is a race of the subspecies Columba livia domestica.}

There are a large number of races of this species, characterized mainly by differences in plumage color and shape.Indeed, there are at least 60 hereditary factors that can be coded for these traits. That said, the taxonomic classification of the Colipava pigeon is as follows:

Class: Birds
Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbidae
Genre: Columba

Characteristics of the fantail

Let's now familiarize ourselves with the characteristics specific to the peacock tail pigeon:

It is a medium-sized pigeon, whose weight can be around 600 g.
The characteristic feature of the peacock-tailed pigeon is precisely its fan-shaped tail made up of large feathers, creating a semicircular shape, which the animal moves at will.
The legs are short and red in color.
The head is small, rounded and goes forward.
The beak is thin and relatively short.
The eyes are also small and variable in color. In individuals with white plumage, they are dark, while for the rest of the coloration, they are light.
The neck is elongated and somewhat curved.
The chest is broad and domed, which gives this bird a characteristic appearance.
The tail has long feathers, approximately 24 to 32 in number, which go upwards to form a kind of arc, the first feathers of the lower end touch the ground.
As for the color, there are several variations: there are individuals who are completely white or black, others who are a combination of white and brown, blue, gray or red.

Habitat of the peacock tail pigeon

Initially, the species is native to several countries in Europe, South Asia and North Africa, its natural habitat being rock faces, cliffs, caves and ledges, where they nest these birds.However, as a domesticated species, it has been introduced globally, with the exception of Antarctica. However, the fantail breed originated precisely in India. The English breeders then continued their crossbreeding, and it was finally in Germany that the characteristics specific to this pigeon and known to date were obtained.

The domestic pigeon, after its cosmopolitan introduction, has become a species that mainly inhabits urban spaces, so it is common for it to live in squares, in parks, in buildings and, in general, in all kinds of constructions in the city, because it stays rather away from places with luxuriant and abundant vegetation. Due to this wide distribution, their world population numbers in the millions, which in many cases poses major problems: on the one hand, he alth problems, as they transmit various types of pathogens; on the other hand, hygiene problems, because their excrement damages the infrastructures where they tend to develop.

As for the breed, it is generally confined to hatcheries used for breeding and subsequent marketing, as it is a bird used primarily for display purposes.

Habits of the peacock tail pigeon

It is a bird with a docile, peaceful and sociable tendency, an aspect that it generally shares with non-domesticated individuals living in cities. However, if the animal remains confined in a cage, it can of course generate certain noises and disorders in the space. In this way, it is important to emphasize that these birds, like other animals, need to move freely and should not be confined in a cage. If, for example, you find a seriously injured pigeon and want to take care of it until it recovers, after a visit to the veterinary clinic, in this other article we talk about pigeon care.

When temperatures drop, fantail pigeons, like other pigeons, tend to huddle together to keep each other warm.They have a particular gait when strolling on their two legs, their tail protrudes widely and their chest swells, a consequence of their physical characteristics. Moreover, its morphology and the shape of its tail make it not very agile in flight.

Reproduction of the peacock tail pigeon

When the female is ready to reproduce, she indicates it to the male with a sort of courtship display. Subsequently, when the male perceives its attitude, they jointly initiate movements, where they rub their chest and beak against each other. These are animals that, in their natural form, tend to form pairs where both participate in the care of the eggs.

The female usually lays two eggs, about 24 hours apart. Incubation is carried out by both female and male and lasts an average of 18 days, after which the eggs hatch from which the youngsters emerge.

Feeding the Peacock-tailed Pigeon

It is a bird that mainly consumes seeds, oats, corn and cherries, but due to its domestication, other types of food such as wheat, peanuts, beans , flaxseed and sunflower, among others, are often included. In captivity, they are also fed on insect larvae, worms or even maggots. In addition, females need a diet richer in protein and minerals for good egg production.

In this other article we explore pigeon feeding in more depth, happy reading!

State of conservation of the peacock tail pigeon

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, it is difficult to assess the status of the species due to the mixing that exists between the different specimens of the species. However, as mentioned, it is a globally widespread species, which is why it is listed as Least Concern.

Similarly, as the Peacock-tail pigeon breed is a breeding bird, it is not included in the criteria for assessing its conservation status, but it is known to be one of the pigeons most traded domestic ones due to its great exposure in various parts of the world. At PlanèteAnimal we defend the respect and enhancement of all animals, which we consider to be living beings with rights. Therefore, we do not support the breeding of animals exposed to overcrowding, stress or any other aspect adverse to their welfare.