The Pouter pigeons are

domesticated Domestication is a sustained multi-generational relationship in which humans assume a significant degree of control over the reproduction and care of another group of organisms to secure a more predictable supply of resources from that group. A ...

varieties of the

rock dove The rock dove, rock pigeon, or common pigeon ( also ; ''Columba livia'') is a member of the bird family Columbidae (doves and pigeons). In common usage, it is often simply referred to as the "pigeon". The domestic pigeon (''Columba livia domes ...

, ''Columba livia'', characterized by a very large, inflatable

crop A crop is a plant that can be grown and harvested extensively for profit or subsistence. When the plants of the same kind are cultivated at one place on a large scale, it is called a crop. Most crops are cultivated in agriculture or hydroponic ...

. They are kept as ornamental or fancy breeds, valued for their unusual appearance. There are many varieties of pouter with little in common except for the nature of the crop. The origin of the breed group is unknown, but Pouters have been bred in

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...

for at least 400 years.

Common varieties

* Brunner Pouter *

Dutch Cropper The Dutch Cropper is the oldest and largest National fancy pigeon breed in the Netherlands. History As C.A.M. Spruijt points out in his 1929 book ''De Kropperrassen'', the origin of the Dutch Cropper is not very clear. He refers to Ulysses Aldro ...

* Elster Cropper *

English Pouter The English Pouter is a breed of fancy pigeon developed over many years of selective breeding. English Pouters, along with other varieties of domesticated pigeons, are all descendants from the rock pigeon. A breed with an enlarged crop, their ...

* Gaditano Pouter *

Ghent Cropper The Ghent Cropper is a breed of fancy pigeon developed over many years of selective breeding. Ghent Croppers, along with other varieties of domesticated pigeons, are all descendants from the rock pigeon (''Columba livia''). See also *List of ...

* Granadino Pouter * Holle Cropper * Horseman Thief Pouter * Marchenero Pouter *

Norwich Cropper The Norwich Cropper is a breed of fancy pigeon developed over many years of selective breeding. The Norwich Cropper along with other varieties of domesticated pigeons are all descendants from the rock pigeon (''Columba livia''). The Norwich Crop ...

* Old German Cropper *

Pigmy Pouter The Pigmy Pouter is a breed of fancy pigeon developed over many years of selective breeding. Pigmy Pouters, along with other varieties of domesticated pigeons, are all descendants from the rock pigeon (''Columba livia''). Noted British poultry ...

Pomeranian Pouter Pomeranian is an adjective referring to the historical region of Pomerania, which is today divided between Poland and Germany. Peoples and cultures * Pomeranian Balts, ancient western Baltic people * Pomeranian culture, an Iron Age culture of ...

* Reverse-wing Pouter * Voorburg Shield Cropper

References

External links

* Pigeon breeds Domestic pigeons {{Domesticated-pigeon-breed-stub