Nun (pigeon)
Encyclopedia
The Nun is a breed
of fancy pigeon developed over many years of selective breeding
, was also known as the Dutch Shell Pigeon in continental Europe. Nuns, along with other varieties of domesticated pigeons
, are all descendants from the Rock Pigeon
(Columba livia).
The Nun is one of the oldest breeds and was originally a flying tumbler
before being developed for exhibition. It is a mostly white breed, with a hood of feathers which gives the name to the breed.
, from which this breed of pigeon originated; although as with all domestic pigeons they are descended from the Rock Pigeon
(Columba livia). They have mostly white bodies and are designated according to the color of their head, i.e. a Black headed Nun, or a Yellow headed Nun. Only the head, tail and the flight feather
s should be so colored. Nuns are one breed in a group of pigeons who fly at high altitudes, along with types of tumblers and the Magpie
breed.
The British Nun Club standard for the Nun states that the ideal size for male birds should be 9 inches (22.9 cm) from the top of the bird's head to their feet, and 10 inches (25.4 cm) from the front of the chest to its tail. Female and young birds should be roughly the same size. The beak should be straight but stout, and the eyes a pearly white.
Charles Darwin
referred to the Nun in The Variation of Animals and Plants Under Domestication
, where he described how the Nun and Jacobin
breeds of pigeon have evolved to have less caudal vertebrae than the Rock Pigeon, from which they originate.
Breed
A breed is a group of domestic animals or plants with a homogeneous appearance, behavior, and other characteristics that distinguish it from other animals or plants of the same species. Despite the centrality of the idea of "breeds" to animal husbandry, there is no scientifically accepted...
of fancy pigeon developed over many years of selective breeding
Selective breeding
Selective breeding is the process of breeding plants and animals for particular genetic traits. Typically, strains that are selectively bred are domesticated, and the breeding is sometimes done by a professional breeder. Bred animals are known as breeds, while bred plants are known as varieties,...
, was also known as the Dutch Shell Pigeon in continental Europe. Nuns, along with other varieties of domesticated pigeons
Domestic Pigeon
The Domestic Pigeon was derived from the Rock Pigeon. The Rock Pigeon is the world's oldest domesticated bird. Mesopotamian cuneiform tablets mention the domestication of pigeons more than 5,000 years ago, as do Egyptian hieroglyphics.Research suggests that domestication of pigeons was as early as...
, are all descendants from the Rock Pigeon
Rock Pigeon
The Rock Dove or Rock Pigeon, is a member of the bird family Columbidae . In common usage, this bird is often simply referred to as the "pigeon"....
(Columba livia).
The Nun is one of the oldest breeds and was originally a flying tumbler
Tumbler (pigeon)
Tumbler pigeons are varieties of domesticated pigeons descendant from the Rock Dove that have been selected for their ability to tumble or roll over backwards in flight....
before being developed for exhibition. It is a mostly white breed, with a hood of feathers which gives the name to the breed.
Description
The Nun is given its name by the raised feathers which form a kind of hood which covers the back of the neck and head. Continental Europe previously referred to the Nun as the Dutch Shell Pigeon during the early part of the 20th century. It resembles the tumblerTumbler (pigeon)
Tumbler pigeons are varieties of domesticated pigeons descendant from the Rock Dove that have been selected for their ability to tumble or roll over backwards in flight....
, from which this breed of pigeon originated; although as with all domestic pigeons they are descended from the Rock Pigeon
Rock Pigeon
The Rock Dove or Rock Pigeon, is a member of the bird family Columbidae . In common usage, this bird is often simply referred to as the "pigeon"....
(Columba livia). They have mostly white bodies and are designated according to the color of their head, i.e. a Black headed Nun, or a Yellow headed Nun. Only the head, tail and the flight feather
Flight feather
Flight feathers are the long, stiff, asymmetrically shaped, but symmetrically paired feathers on the wings or tail of a bird; those on the wings are called remiges while those on the tail are called rectrices . Their primary function is to aid in the generation of both thrust and lift, thereby...
s should be so colored. Nuns are one breed in a group of pigeons who fly at high altitudes, along with types of tumblers and the Magpie
Magpie (pigeon)
The Magpie is a breed of fancy pigeon developed over many years of selective breeding. Magpies, along with other varieties of domesticated pigeons, are all descendants from the Rock Pigeon . The original Magpie was one of the old tumbler varieties, coming via Germany from Denmark about 1900....
breed.
The British Nun Club standard for the Nun states that the ideal size for male birds should be 9 inches (22.9 cm) from the top of the bird's head to their feet, and 10 inches (25.4 cm) from the front of the chest to its tail. Female and young birds should be roughly the same size. The beak should be straight but stout, and the eyes a pearly white.
Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin
Charles Robert Darwin FRS was an English naturalist. He established that all species of life have descended over time from common ancestry, and proposed the scientific theory that this branching pattern of evolution resulted from a process that he called natural selection.He published his theory...
referred to the Nun in The Variation of Animals and Plants Under Domestication
The Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication
The Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication is a book written by Charles Darwin that was first published in January 1868.A large proportion of the book contains detailed information on the domestication of animals and plants but it also contains in Chapter XXVII a description of...
, where he described how the Nun and Jacobin
Jacobin (pigeon)
The Jacobin is a breed of fancy pigeon developed over many years of selective breeding. Jacobins, along with other varieties of domesticated pigeons, are all descendants from the Rock Pigeon ....
breeds of pigeon have evolved to have less caudal vertebrae than the Rock Pigeon, from which they originate.