HERE'S a wildlife concept that you probably never put much thought into: pigeons with curly feathers.
Close your eyes and sit with that one for a minute.
Are these adorable, avian anomalies real? Or are we being duped by the internet’s Photoshop wizards with too much time on their hands again?
Verdict:
True
Believe it or not, curly-feathered pigeons do exist!
Frillback pigeons are a fancy breed known for their curled feathers, especially on their wings and back.
Unlike the typical smooth feathers you see on city pigeons (also known as rock doves), Frillbacks have a bit of flair that makes them look like they’ve just strutted out of an 1980s perm party.
Their unique appearance can be attributed to the product of selective breeding, a practice humans have been engaging in for centuries to emphasize specific traits in animals.
In this case, breeders favored pigeons with feathers that curled naturally, and over time, this trait became the defining feature of the Frillback breed.
So one might ask, how do they get their Mariah Carey-like curls?
The curling of Frillback feathers is a genetic trait, caused by a recessive gene that influences the way keratin (the protein that makes up feathers) develops.
Unlike their smooth-feathered cousins, Frillbacks’ keratin forms in spirals, resulting in their signature curls.
These feathers are purely for the aesthetic and don’t affect the bird’s ability to fly or function.
While the exact point of origin is not known, the Frillback is believed to have originated from Asia Minor, a region that today covers the countries of Turkey, Greece, Kurdistan and Armenia.
With that being said, if you’re hoping to spot one of these curly cuties in the wild, you’ll likely be disappointed.
These birds are raised by pigeon enthusiasts and aren’t bred for the designer lifestyle of urban pigeons scavenging for forsaken French fries.
They’re often raised as pets and showcased at international pigeon exhibitions and fairs, where their curly feathers make them stand out from the crowd.
So if you ever see a bird that resembles a pile of pencil shavings with wings, it just might be a Frillback pigeon that’s really far from home.
REFERENCES:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQz55S5slDU&ab_channel=FancyPigeonFair
