Examination of Native Pigeon Breeds in Turkey and Some Morphological Characteristics

Abstract

It is known that the domestication of pigeons dates back eight thousand years. They are widely bred worldwide for their meat, manure, appearance, calls, acrobatic flights, and religious influences. Turkey is one of the countries where a significant number of local pigeon genotypes have emerged due to its diverse geographical regions, climatic conditions, cultural heritage, and long-standing breeding tradition. In Anatolia, pigeon breeding is not limited solely to production purposes such as meat and eggs; it has also been shaped by characteristics such as flight, diving, turning, somersaulting, rolling, calls, and appearance. This situation has led to the emergence of numerous local pigeon types in Turkey, each with significantly different morphological and behavioral characteristics. This review evaluates some morphological and functional characteristics of native and local pigeon genotypes found in Turkey, based on literature data. Specifically, live weight, body length, head and beak characteristics, wing, chest, tail, and tarsus measurements of 22 local Turkish pigeon breed genotypes, including Alabadem, Bursa Oynar?, Trakya Makarac?s?, Muradiye Dönek, Baska, M?s?ri, and Hünkâri, were examined. This review study shows that Turkish pigeons exhibit significant phenotypic diversity, but detailed and standardized morphometric data are still insufficient for some local genotypes. Therefore, conducting standardized characterization studies using morphological, morphometric, behavioural, and molecular data together is important for the conservation of native pigeon genetic resources and the development of sustainable breeding.