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October 26, 2007Windows

Pigeon Roost

   Color morphing
Feral Rock Dove
Invasive species

A lthough this pervasive bird exhibits a proclivity to poop indiscriminately, it does possess a few interesting characteristics. Unlike other birds that always are consistent within their coloration plumage, pigeons come in many different colors. Allegedly this is the result of human intervention. At some far distant point in antiquity, man captured wild pigeons of a common color and domesticated them. They have been used for food, messaging, racing and even rescue operations. Over time controlled selective breeding created colored variants. Today's wild city pigeons are descendants of these captured pigeons. Individual birds escaped captivity and reverted to uncultivated and successful populations, adapting manmade structures as homes and breeding grounds. Scientists can't explain why wild feral pigeons still exist in so many colors. Why haven't they evolved back to a uniform color appearance?

“I am a messenger of the beauty of creation.” - Thomas Robinson

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