The domestic pigeon is a domesticated bird derived from the rock dove, of which it is also a subspecies. Although often termed a "subspecies", the domesticated pigeon does not constitute an accepted zoological subspecies of the rock dove, but a collection of over 350 breeds. The rock dove is among the world's first birds to be domesticated; Mesopotamian cuneiform tablets mention the domestication of pigeons more than 5,000 years ago, as do Egyptian hieroglyphs.
At a glance
- Scientific name
- Columba livia domestica
- Category
- Birds
- Animal type
- Bird
Some species are regulated (CITES, ownership permits) — check the rules before keeping one.
