Domestic pigeon

Descended from the wild rock dove (Columba livia) of Eurasia and North Africa, domesticated ~5,000–10,000 years ago. Wild-type is gray with iridescent neck feathers, two black wing bars, and a white rump. Over 350 domestic breeds exhibit extraordinary variation in plumage color, pattern, feather structure (fantails, frills, muffs), body shape, and behavior—Darwin studied pigeon breeds extensively as evidence for selection. Adults weigh 250–400 g. They are monogamous, producing "crop milk" (nutritious secretion from the crop lining) to feed squabs—one of few birds with this ability. Diet: seeds, grain, and scraps. They are superb navigators using magnetoreception, olfaction, and visual landmarks for homing over hundreds of kilometers. Feral pigeons thrive in cities worldwide. In research, pigeons are models for visual cognition, learning, navigation, and genetics of morphological diversity. They were used historically as message carriers. Females lay 2 eggs; incubation: 17–19 days. Genome sequenced (2n=80). Lifespan: 3–5 years wild, 15+ captive. IUCN: Least Concern.