First, let’s straighten out what makes pigeon fanciers? Being a pigeon fancier means that you not only enjoy having or keeping pigeons, but that you also enjoy breeding them.

Pigeon Fancier

Not surprising there have been pigeon fanciers for approximately 10,000 years. However, in the United States, pigeons have been “sorted” as it were into three distinct groupings, the flying or sporting breeds, the fancy breeds, and the utility breeds. Interestingly enough other countries have different distinct groupings of their pigeons. The sporting groups for instance here in the USA comprise of those pigeons that take part in pigeon racing, or who perform such flying as rolling, and very high flying as well as tumbling. Today pigeon fanciers still race pigeons of course, and they are still often used to send messages, and have even been taught to deliver drugs inside prisons! Those who breed fancy pigeons often take them to various pigeon shows of course, as looks are everything.

Pheasant Under Glass Or Squab Under Glass For Pigeon Fanciers?

We deliberately did not explain the third classification of pigeons in the above, the utility breeds. You see pigeons are served as food in many places, but when that is done it is referred to as squab. Thus pigeons which are raised for food will not be taken to pigeon shows of any kind, or at least rarely so, since their high quality of meat is their winning appeal and certainly not their looks.

Where To Find Pigeon Fanciers

Undoubtedly one of the most famous pigeon fanciers around was Mike Tyson. He was after all, the heavyweight boxing champion and is still the undisputed heavyweight boxing champion. At one time, Mike Tyson had 350 pigeons to care for. Just imagine that pigeon fancier Mike Tyson was actually inducted on Dec. 7, 2010 to the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Another very famous pigeon fancier is Queen Elizabeth II. Her favorite sport is pigeon racing. The very famous inventor of the Tesla Coil, Nikola Tesla, is yet another well known pigeon fancier.

Canadian Pigeon Fanciers

Other pigeon fanciers are Roy Rogers, Elvis Presley, Ray Price, Terry Bradshaw, Marlon Brando, Yul Bryner, Tony Curtis, Charles Darwin, Walt Disney, George Foreman, Michael Landon, Gypsy Rose Lee, Lee Marvin, Willy Mays, Wayne Newton, Clint Eastwood, Scott Baio, Maurizo Gucci, and Virginia Graham.

What about the International Federation of Pigeon Fanciers?

Referred to plainly as IF, the International Federation of Pigeon Fanciers has as its mission to promote the breeding, training, racing as well as exhibition of pigeons, as well  as heavily promoting the sport and protecting pigeons. Currently there are over 3,500 active members to the International Federation. It is reported that at last count there were over a million pigeon fanciers all around the world, and that actually equals to over 4 million kept pigeons, which is truly a startling fact. It is said that the highest price paid for a homing pigeon is $225,000 and all around the world, there are approximately 5 pigeon races.that have as high as a million dollar purse! Now that is exciting news for all pigeon fanciers, I fancy!