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.

Jacobin pigeon: This breed of fancy pigeon originated in Asia and it took many years for breeders to develop what looks like a fur stole or hood around the neck. The ornamental feathers consist of three parts known as the hood, mane, and chain.