This tool provides a general estimate and does not replace professional veterinary advice.
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What is the Pigeon Species Identifier?
The Pigeon Species Identifier identifies likely species or subspecies of pigeons from color and marking cues. Knowing what you're working with shapes everything from diet and housing to expected size and temperament. That is useful for new owners and shelters alike.
Pigeons generally live 10-15 years when they are well looked after. They are a granivore, so their nutritional needs shift with age, size and activity. Pigeons are intelligent, calm and unusually trainable. Kept indoors they need pigeon pants or a dedicated room; kept outdoors they need a predator-proof loft with perches sized so the bird's chest rests on the ledge. The usual suspects for this species are canker (trichomoniasis), paramyxovirus, coccidiosis, so any noticeable change is worth following up.
Pigeon quick facts
| Measure | Pigeon |
|---|---|
| Typical lifespan | 10–15 years |
| Adult weight | 0.7–1.1 lb (0.3–0.5 kg) |
| Diet | Granivore |
| Mature at | About 6 months |
| Egg incubation | 17–19 days |
| Clutch size | 2–2 eggs |
| Humidity | 40–60% |
How does the Pigeon Species Identifier work?
The result is based on matching the traits you describe against commonly documented characteristics for pigeons, not genetic testing. The math is only as good as what you feed it, so an accurate, recent input matters more than the formula itself.
Factors that matter
- Physical traits such as size: coloring and markings
- Behavioral traits: which can be just as informative as appearance for some questions
- Age: since juvenile traits can differ noticeably from adult ones
- Photo or description quality: the more specific your input, the more useful the match
How do you use the Pigeon Species Identifier?
- Pick your adult size (Very small, Small, Medium, ...)
- Pick your coat length (Hairless or very short, Short and dense, Medium, ...)
- Pick your ear carriage (Erect, Folded or dropped, Semi-erect, ...)
- Pick your overall build (Slender and fine-boned, Balanced, Stocky and heavy-boned)
- Pick your dominant color pattern (Solid single color, Two-tone or bicolour, Brindle, merle, tabby or ticked, ...)
- Press Calculate, then read the result alongside the sources listed below
Use this alongside your own observation, not instead of it. You notice changes in your pigeon that no calculator can pick up.
For related questions, see the other identification tools or browse every pigeon tool.
Before you rely on this
Averages hide a lot of variation. The figure here reflects what is typical for pigeons, but your pigeon may sit well outside it for perfectly ordinary reasons. Use the result to spot changes over time in your own animal rather than to compare it against other people's pets.
Sources and references
The formulas, reference ranges and species data behind the Pigeon Species Identifier come from these veterinary references, professional bodies and published research.
- ASPCA Animal Poison ControlPeople Foods to Avoidaspca.org(opens in a new tab)
- petpoisonhelpline.comPet Poison Helplinepetpoisonhelpline.com(opens in a new tab)
- pdsa.org.ukPDSA Pet Health Hubpdsa.org.uk(opens in a new tab)
- Merck Veterinary ManualPet Birdsmerckvetmanual.com(opens in a new tab)
- RSPCAAdvice and Welfarerspca.org.uk(opens in a new tab)
- Built on veterinary referencesFormulas and ranges come from veterinary manuals, university research and welfare bodies, listed above for you to check.
- Instant resultsNo page reload, no waiting and no account. Enter your details and the result appears straight away.
- Private by designCalculations run in your browser. Nothing you enter is stored on our servers or shared with anyone.
- Always freeEvery XpertsPet tool is free to use, with no premium tier and nothing to sign up for.