How do homing pigeons know where their home is?

The homing pigeon is a variety of domesticated Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) that has been selectively bred to be able to find its way home over extremely long distances. Because any pigeon generally returns to its own nest and its own mate, it was relatively easy to selectively breed the birds that repeatedly found their way home over long distances. The birds can carry messages (frequently written on cigarette paper) in a small tube attached to one leg. Flights as long as 1689 miles have been recorded by exceptional birds in competition pigeon racing. Their average flying speed over moderate distances is around 30 miles per hour, but they can achieve bursts of speed up to 60 mph.

This bird is to be distinguished from the carrier pigeon, an entirely different breed.

Some research has been performed with the intention of discovering how birds can find their way back from distant places they have never visited before. Some researchers believe that pigeons navigate by Earth's magnetic field. Near their home lofts, in areas they have previously visited, pigeons probably are guided by natural and artificial landmarks. Research by Floriano Papi (Italy, early 1970s) and newer research published in the February, 2004 issue of Animal Behaviour suggest that pigeons also orient themselves by odors and/or combinations of odors.

It isnt about the trainning, the reason why they are called Homing Pigeons is because where they are born they have the natural instincts to return home. You could take a pigeon 500 miles from his home and he will return back to his home.

Sapphyre

Certified Avian Specialist

www.borrowed-rainbow.com

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they have a build in gps. And they are not the only birds. Once a bird has been to a location it can always find its way back. I have seen the very same birds return to my house year after year. I had the same pair of mallards return every spring to 6 years. I have had the same towhee return every spring for the last 4 years. The same curve bill thraster return every spring for the last 5 years.

they were raised there. They are trained to fly back home..

its sad that real homing pigeons went extinct

They are born with there tehcniques!

they are trained.