Today, breeders have not yet set the standard for the breed of pigeons with colorful plumage. Representatives of this family of birds receive the corresponding name in their color.
In the article we will talk about the diverse palette of colors in the pigeon plumage, as well as about where you can meet these beautiful birds.
Are there colorful doves?
Before answering the question, let us recall the history of the origin of pigeons and the time of domestication of these birds by humans. According to paleontologists, the great ancestors of domestic pigeons were wild gray-eyed birds that appeared on the planet over 30 million years ago and were divided into 2 families: dodos and pigeons. 
Representatives of the first family were large birds weighing up to 25 kg, which were completely destroyed in the 16th century as a result of uncontrolled hunting for tasty meat.
Did you know? Pigeons are the most mobile terrestrial vertebrates, capable of traveling long distances at a speed of 100 km / h.
Representatives of the second family were able to domesticate in ancient Egypt more than 3.5 thousand years ago. Today there are 292 species of these birds, 11 of which inhabit our open spaces. Pigeons have a varied color of feathers - from monotone to variegated, with color variation from white to black.
As well as intricate colors - fawn-orange, crimson-red, dark brick, golden brown, with splashes of blue-blue and green.
Principles of selection, including basic knowledge of genetics, helped to achieve a variety of shades in pigeon plumage. 
As a result of selective work, compared to the original species, the blue-winged birds have changed not only the coloring of feathers, but also their appearance: pigeons have different forms of tail, plumage density, shape of paws and tufts, as well as other characteristics artificially derived.
A variety of breeds of pigeons
The colored breeds of these birds, as mentioned above, differ from their relatives of standard breeds in their rich plumage. Further we will tell about several bright representatives of this bird family and their habitats.
Did you know? Pigeons are monogamous birds forming a strong pair for the rest of their lives. Raising chicks, they water them with goiter milk, which they themselves can produce.
The black
Black pigeons (they are also called Japanese pigeons) are considered a separate species. These birds have absolutely black plumage all over the body, except for the head, which is decorated with shades from darkest to reddish-purple. 
There are quite large individuals, up to 40 cm in length. At the same time, the bird has a small head, a long neck and an elongated body. The beak can be from black to dark blue or greenish-blue.
Neck, chest and upper back - with a rainbow-green or purple shimmer. Paws - from pale red to deep red.
The usual habitats of black birds are subtropical forests of Japan, Korea and China. Birds feed on stone fruit from trees than they play an important role in their distribution.
Find out what breeds of pigeons belong to domestic, to the most unusual, to stately, to the post.
Redhead
Pigeons with red color are divided into 6 subspecies and are quite large birds: body length varies from 30 to 35 cm, and weight - from 220 to 300 g. The upper body has a purple-brown color, and on the crown and nape feathers are cast in a greenish tint . 
The throat and stomach are pale gray in color, the chest contrasts with the stomach and is colored in the same tone as the upper part of the body. The wings are brown-gray, gray-bluish on the inside, the tail is the same color as the wings on top. Bill is black, paws are red. The plumage of males is somewhat brighter than that of females.
Birds of this species live in wet forests, swampy savannas, along rivers and lakes, located in vast territories of South and North America.
Important! Pigeon breeders need to monitor enough vitamin K in their pet's diet, otherwise their blood clotting may drop significantly, and then even a small injury on the body will cause bleeding.
Pink
Despite its name, pink pigeons do not differ in flashy-bright plumage, but have a muffled, powdery shade of pink. Feathers of such a delicate color are located all over the body of the bird, except for the wings and tail, and they, in turn, are colored brown and sometimes dark gray. 
Tail feathers - in the form of a fan, and cast a red-red shade. A small round head is planted on a short neck, the eyes are dark yellow, with a red ring around them, the beak is pale red at the base, and pink-white at the tip. Feet without feathers, light red.
In length, the body of these birds can be 30-38 cm, and their weight - up to 350 g.
Pink pigeons are rather rare, red-booked birds living exclusively on the islands of Mauritius and Egret, located in the Indian Ocean. Since the end of the twentieth century, the pink breed has become successfully bred in zoos around the world.
Green
Reicheno, or Japanese green pigeons, have green plumage with yellow, olive and brown shades. These birds do not differ in large size, reach a length of 30 cm and weigh about 250-300 g. 
These birds have a squat body with a short tail and feathers on their paws. Some individuals have plumage, diluted with other shades, for example, the neck can be pink, brightly distinguished on a green body.
Birds with green feathers live in the south of Asia, in some territories of the African continent, and they can also be found on the Kamchatka Peninsula, Sakhalin Island and the Kuril Islands.
They love thickets of deciduous and mixed forests, merging the color of their feather cover with green foliage, which is why it is very difficult to see and see. Birds feed on various small fruits - wild cherries, bird cherries, grapes and elderberry.
Important! Veterinary experts have warned that pigeons can transmit various bird diseases to humans: trichomoniasis, salmonellosis, knuckles, ornithosis, and Newcastle disease.
Black and white
Birds, painted black and white, inhabit the Australian continent. The plumage at the front of the neck has a dazzling white color, and the back is painted gray. The breast is off-white, but the edging covering feathers of the wings and tail are coal black. 
The body is small, 25 cm in length. Each wing has a span of only 15 cm. The dove's beak is small, dark gray.
Gray
Gray pigeons are considered the most common and popular birds of the pigeon family. The length of the body of these birds is up to 35 cm, and the wings in scope reach 65 cm. The body has thick plumage with a smoky color, and the head and neck can be molded with greens or silver. 
Eyes - yellow or golden. The wings have black stripes on the covering fly feathers, and the tail has a wide black strip along the edge. The body weight of a gray pigeon is from 200 to 400 g. The distribution of gray bird is Europe, Africa and Asia.
Blacktail
Black-tailed pigeons are included in the subgroup of color-tailed, which have snow-white feathers all over their bodies, and only their tail is black. The beak is medium, the eyes are small and light, the legs are short and red. 
These birds are adapted for long flights. The history of the appearance of the black-tailed species is unknown.
Did you know? In one of New York's public gardens, in Manhattan, a sculpture of Donald Trump, the President of the United States, is sitting on a bench and feeding pigeons with tweets in the shape of cookies.
Brown
Brown pigeons look very similar to the gray representatives of this family of birds, but they are slightly smaller in size. The feather color is dark gray, with a brown overflow on the wings and a brown tinge on the back. 
The beak at the base is red, and its tip is yellow. Habitats of brown birds are Pakistan, Central Asia, Northern India and Afghanistan.
Red
Red pigeons (they are also called Roman) belong to meat breeds of pigeons and are considered giants among their relatives - their body length reaches 55 cm, weight - up to 1200 g, and wings in a span of up to 1 m.
Check out the list of the most productive meat pigeons and tips on breeding pigeon meat breeds.
Birds have a thick plumage with a red tint, having a more saturated color around the neck. The breed is widespread throughout Europe. 
In conclusion, we emphasize that the colored breeds of pigeons attract attention due to their decorative appearance, are in great demand among professionals and amateurs, and serve to adorn many ceremonies and celebrations.
