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pigeon/dove breeds

23 10:44:36

Question
birds
birds  
QUESTION: Hi there,

I already have some fan tail dove  but yesterday i was given some more birds. I know the 2 white ones are Fantails but I was wondering if you may be able to shed some light on what another breeds may be in there. Any help would be much appreciated.

Many king regards,

Jo.

ANSWER: My guess is Birmingham Rollers.  The opal check looks like a squeaker.  

Dave

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi again Dave,

I don't really know much about pigeon breeds and colour variations at all as I only got given my fantails last summer by someone who didn't want them anymore but it sparked my interest in keeping birds. Could you tell me any more about any of the colour variations of the ones in the pic? For instance I have no idea what opal check means but I'm assuming a "squeaker" is a youngster LOL! Sorry if I sound really thick But I truly am a beginner so please forgive me. I just seem to be a pet dumping magnet and I just don't have the heart to turn anything away, I've ended up with allsorts. :o) do you reckon they are all rollers?

Kind Regards,

Jo

Answer
Wow!  There have been MANY entire books written on pigeon color and genetics; too much for me to rewrite here.  But here is a quicky description, front to rear;

Front bird is white of course.
2nd is an Ash-Red T-pattern heterozygous baldhead!
3rd is a Blue Check Opal het. baldhead
4th is a Blue Bar het. baldhead
5th appears to be an Indigo Blue Bar with white flights.

There are at least 6 wing patterns;

Barless is a clear light blue wing (on blue bird, ash on Ash-Red, light brown on Brown)
Single bar is a new mutation I have only seen pictures of
Bar (2 stripes) is the wild type
3 bars is a throw back to a different species, found in the breed Modena
Check (or checquer) is an alternating pattern over the wing
T-Pattern  is solid dark color on wing shield
Solid black bird is unrelated to wing patterns.
Dr. Hollander included light check and dark check in the series.

Opal comes in 2 different forms but both slightly lightens the base color and add a pinkish hue to the wing shield.

Indigo darkens the base color and replaces the dark (called spread) pigment in the wing with a deep burgandy.

Dave