The domestic pigeon is a subspecies of pigeon that evolved from the rock dove (also called the rock pigeon). The world’s oldest tamed bird is the rock pigeon. Pigeons were domesticated more than 5,000 years ago, according to Mesopotamian cuneiform records and Egyptian hieroglyphics. Pigeons may have been domesticated as early as 10,000 years ago, according to research.

Pigeons have made significant contributions to humans, particularly during times of conflict. Pigeons’ homing skill has been put to use in battle by using them as messengers. Many critical messages have been delivered by so-called war pigeons, and some have even been honored for their efforts. Pigeons have received medals such as the Croix de guerre, which was presented to Cher Ami, and the Dickin Medal, which was granted to the pigeons G.I. Joe and Paddy, among 32 others, for their efforts in saving human lives.

Despite this, city pigeons are now considered pests, owing to their droppings. In many regions of the world, feral pigeons are considered invasive, despite having the least influence on wild bird populations and the environment.

Domestic pigeons are comparable to wild rock pigeons in terms of reproduction. Humans, on the whole, choose their breeding mates. Artificial replacements may be used to replace crop milk or pigeon milk generated by both male and female parent birds on occasion. Pigeons are fiercely protective of their eggs, and will go to great measures to defend them. They have been known to seek vengeance on anyone who interfere with their breeding process. Squeakers and squabs are the names given to baby pigeons.

Trained domestic pigeons may return to their home loft after being released to a location they have never been before, even if it is up to 1000 kilometers distant. A pigeon’s capacity to return home from an unfamiliar area needs two types of information. The first is their geographic position, which is referred to as “map sense.” The second, “compass sense,” is the bearing they must take to return home from their new location. Both of these senses, on the other hand, respond to a variety of stimuli in a variety of settings.

The most common explanation for how pigeons achieve this is that they use small magnetic tissues in their heads to sense the Earth’s magnetic field (magnetoception). Another idea is that pigeons have compass sense, which works out direction based on the position of the sun and an internal clock. However, investigations have shown that even if these senses are disrupted by magnetic disturbance or clock shifts, the pigeon can still find its way home. The diversity in the consequences of manipulating these pigeons’ senses suggests that navigation is dependent on more than one cue, and that map sense appears to be based on a comparison of available signals.

Homing pigeons are a particular type of pigeon that was developed via selective breeding to deliver messages, and members of this breed are still employed in pigeon racing and the white release dove ceremony at weddings and funerals.

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