Domestic pigeon

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Domestic pigeon
A selection of domestic pigeon breeds and colors; a result of centuries of selective breeding. The names of the depicted breeds can be seen here.
Conservation status
Domesticated
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Columbiformes
Family:	Columbidae
Genus:	Columba
Species:	C. livia
Subspecies:	C. l. domestica
Trinomial name
Columba livia domestica Gmelin, 1789[1]
Synonyms
Columba domestica Columba livia rustica

The domestic pigeon (Columba livia domestica or Columba livia forma domestica)^[2] is a pigeon subspecies that was derived from the rock dove or rock pigeon. The rock pigeon is the world's oldest domesticated bird. Mesopotamian cuneiform tablets mention the domestication of pigeons more than 5,000 years ago, as do Egyptian hieroglyphics. Pigeons were most likely domesticated in the Mediterranean at least 3000–5000 years ago, and may have been domesticated earlier as a food source.^[3] Research suggests that domestication of pigeons occurred as early as 10,000 years ago.^[4]

Pigeons have held historical importance to humans as food, pets, holy animals, and messengers. Due to their homing ability, pigeons have been used to deliver messages, including during the world wars.^[5] Despite this, city pigeons, which are feral birds released for one reason or another, are generally seen as pests, mainly due to their droppings. Feral pigeons are considered invasive in many parts of the world,^[6] though they have a positive impact on wild bird populations, serving as an important prey species for birds of prey.^{[citation needed][7]}