How to Know How Racing Pigeons Look

Although racing pigeons, or, as they're often called, homing pigeons. come from the same pigeon breed as the common street pigeon, any racing pigeon enthusiast will tell you that comparing a racing pigeon to a street pigeon is like comparing a Ferrari to a jalopy. To know how racing pigeons look, follow these steps.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Take a step back to look at the bird on a whole to see if the plumage is clean and that both feet are intact and, usually, covered in a fine white powder. Then look at the bird in profile to see if it's streamlined and completely smooth.

2. Place the bird next a street pigeon and pay specific attention to the wings of either bird. The homing pigeon's wings should be larger and firmer than the regular pigeon's. If you don't notice a difference visually, feel the bird's wings gently to gauge if they are firm and muscular.

3. Fan out the bird's wings to check for any gaps between the wing feathers. Tightly overlapping feathers indicate that the bird is probably a homing pigeon, while gaps and irregularities in the feathers of the wing indicate that the bird is most likely a street pigeon.

4. Hold the bird out in front of you and look closely at the angle of the tale. A strong racing bird's pectoral muscles cause the tale to angle flatly or even at a solidly downward angle.

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