23 Photos That Showcase The World's Most Beautiful Doves And Pigeons

I’ve never thought of pigeons as anything more than fairly dull and ubiquitous creatures that leave a lot of poop behind. But some people are really into these creatures – and they come in a variety of shapes and colors, partly because they may be one of the first domesticated birds. In fact, people have been breeding (and cross-breeding) them for hundreds of years. There are even show pigeons.

The Saxon Monk is a breed of fancy pigeon. Saxon Monks, along with other varieties of domesticated pigeons, are all descendants from the rock pigeon (Columba livia). Originating in Saxony, these birds come in blue, black, red, yellow, and silver – all with white bars on their wings. The breed is mainly raised for show or ornamental purposes, but they also make decent pets.