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.

Holle Cropper pigeon: Also known as the Amsterdam Balloon Cropper, this breed comes from Holland. And boy does this look uncomfortable! Believe it or not, these birds can fly, despite their shape. It belongs to a category called Pygmy Pouters, and this bird stands on tiptoes, looking like a round ball with legs. They happen to be a very old breed – in fact, there paintings of these birds dating back to the 16th century.