Homing pigeons: What are its types? How does he know his way?
Homing pigeons are a type of domestic pigeon, originally from rock pigeons, with an innate ability to find their way home from long distances. Therefore, homing pigeons were carefully bred to carry out such a task, in addition to relying on them to carry messages over long distances from ancient times to the present day.
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| Homing pigeons or racing pigeons |
Human use of homing pigeons
In pre-technological times, the means of communication between humans were very limited, and in times such as wars they were almost non-existent, so homing pigeons were used to act as postmen between people in different countries and cultures. Some believe that the use of homing pigeons dates back to at least the ancient Egyptians, thousands of years ago.
It was also used to bring news of the conquest of Gaul to Rome, and to England of Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo.
It was then used extensively in both World War I and World War II, with many pigeons even receiving medals for their service in delivering critical messages in wartime.
How do homing pigeons know their way?
Despite many scientific studies over the years, no one fully understands how homing pigeons get home over long distances.
There are also many theories that try to answer this question, and experts have concluded that the pigeon bird has its own compass that it uses to discover its way by tracking 3 basic means, through which it knows its destination. Here are the means in the following lines:
1. Homing pigeons rely on sunlight
Like many other birds, homing pigeons may use the position and angle of the sun to determine the appropriate direction to fly. However, this method is still somewhat ambiguous, due to the inability of birds to see the sun in periods of fog and clouds, so this theory still needs many studies.
2. Homing pigeons depend on the magnetic field
Researchers believe that homing pigeons use the Earth's magnetic field to find their destination. They found that pigeons have concentrations of iron particles in their beak, which allow them to easily detect magnetic fields, and then follow them on their way home.
3. Homing pigeons depend on ultrasound
Recent research suggests that homing pigeons may rely on low-frequency ultrasound to find their way home.
These low frequency sounds are inaudible to human ears, but they are created by almost everything around us.
Pigeons may listen to these sounds in order to distinguish the sound emitted from their home and follow it to find their way back.
The researchers also note that once homing pigeons approach a home, they may be guided in part by familiar landmarks, just as they do with humans when navigating.
Types of homing pigeons
After he demonstrated superior skills in delivering messages between people, the relationship between homing pigeons and humans became more than just a messenger between them, as new strains were developed that also had entertainment skills. Here are the most popular of these strains:
Dragon Pigeon
It is considered one of the oldest breeds of homing pigeons, as there is a document dating back to 1735 in which dragon pigeons are mentioned. Currently there are no sources to tell us much about this breed, but it is believed to be the result of a cross-breeding process that took place in the United Kingdom around the sixteenth or seventeenth century.
Dragon pigeons are considered a bird of medium size and length, standing on short legs with strong thighs, and it has a wide and full chest, which adds to its stately appearance. It is also considered a good flier, with powerful wings, and has been used in flying competitions between birds.
American Show Racer
This breed was crossed in 1952, and it is considered one of the most famous breeds of domesticated homing pigeons, as it has a very beautiful appearance due to the many colors in the feathers of its wings.
American Show Racer pigeons have an average body height of about 35 cm. And you can simply know that these birds are among the most popular types of birds that participate in flying competitions as soon as you hear their name.
The English Carrier
English pigeons were crossed from the breed of homing pigeons that lived in Persia, but they are now extinct.
These birds have been used as messengers to carry messages for many years. This strain arrived in Europe and America at the beginning of the eighteenth century, and despite its emaciated appearance, it proved well-deserved its ability to fly long distances.
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