The Damascene, also known as the Istanbullu pigeon, is a
breed
A breed is a specific group of domestic animals having homogeneous appearance (phenotype), homogeneous behavior, and/or other characteristics that distinguish it from other organisms of the same species. In literature, there exist several slig ...
of
fancy pigeon developed over many years of
selective breeding
Selective breeding (also called artificial selection) is the process by which humans use animal breeding and plant breeding to selectively develop particular phenotypic traits (characteristics) by choosing which typically animal or plant mal ...
.
Damascenes, along with other varieties of
domesticated pigeons, are all descendants of the
rock dove (also called
rock pigeon) (''Columba livia'').
The breed is thought to have originated in
Damascus
)), is an adjective which means "spacious".
, motto =
, image_flag = Flag of Damascus.svg
, image_seal = Emblem of Damascus.svg
, seal_type = Seal
, map_caption =
, ...
,
Syria
Syria ( ar, سُورِيَا or سُورِيَة, translit=Sūriyā), officially the Syrian Arab Republic ( ar, الجمهورية العربية السورية, al-Jumhūrīyah al-ʻArabīyah as-Sūrīyah), is a Western Asian country loc ...
and hence its name.
[* Seymour, Rev. Colin (Ed)(2006) ''Australian Fancy Pigeons National Book of Standards'']
Appearance
The Damascene is entirely white or silver-grey, with a black tail tip and wing bars. The under feathers of the neck are dark grey, and so is the skin. The primary flight feathers grow darker towards the tips. The head and breast should have no markings.
Damascenes may also be grouse-legged, with a short layer of feathers covering the legs, but clean legs are preferred by breeders.
See also
*
List of pigeon breeds
References
External links
Pigeonpedia - Damascene Pigeon Breed Guide
Damascus
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