Columba livia

Columba livia
Homing Hom"ing (h[=o]m"[i^]ng), p. a. Home-returning; -- used specifically of carrier pigeons. [1913 Webster]

{Homing pigeon}, any pigeon trained to return home from a distance. Also called {carrier pigeon}. Most are bred from the domestic pigeon {Columba livia}. Homing pigeons are used for sending back messages or for flying races. By carrying the birds away and releasing them at gradually increasing distances from home, they may be trained to return with more or less certainty and promptness from distances up to four or five hundred miles. The birds typically do not stop on their way home, and may average as much as 60 miles per hour on their return trip. If the distance is increased much beyond 400 miles, the birds are unable to cover it without stopping for a prolonged rest, and their return becomes doubtful. The record for returnig from a distance is close to 1,200 miles. Homing pigeons are not bred for fancy points or special colors, but for strength, speed, endurance, and intelligence or homing instinct. Although used since ancient times, homing pigeons have been largely displaced for practical purposes by radio and electronic communications, but they are still used in some special situations at the end of the 20th century. They were used in military operations as recently as in World War II. [Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

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  • Columba livia — Dove Dove (d[u^]v), n. [OE. dove, duve, douve, AS. d[=u]fe; akin to OS. d[=u]ba, D. duif, OHG. t[=u]ba, G. taube, Icel. d[=u]fa, Sw. dufva, Dan. due, Goth. d[=u]b[=o]; perh. from the root of E. dive.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) A pigeon of the genus {Columba} …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Columba livia — Pigeon Pi geon, n. [F., fr. L. pipio a young pipping or chirping bird, fr. pipire to peep, chirp. Cf. {Peep} to chirp.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) Any bird of the order Columb[ae], of which numerous species occur in nearly all parts of the world. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Columba livia — Rock Rock, n. [OF. roke, F. roche; cf. Armor. roc h, and AS. rocc.] 1. A large concreted mass of stony material; a large fixed stone or crag. See {Stone}. [1913 Webster] Come one, come all! this rock shall fly From its firm base as soon as I. Sir …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Columba livia — uolinis karvelis statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Columba livia angl. Rock Dove vok. Felsentaube ryšiai: sinonimas – naminis karvelis …   Paukščių anatomijos terminai

  • Columba livia — uolinis karvelis statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Columba livia angl. rock dove vok. Felsentaube, f rus. сизый голубь, m pranc. pigeon biset, m ryšiai: platesnis terminas – tikrieji karveliai …   Paukščių pavadinimų žodynas

  • Columba Livia Guesthouse — (Паланга,Литва) Категория отеля: Адрес: Maironio g. 54, LT 00124 Паланга, Литва …   Каталог отелей

  • Columba livia f. domestica — Stadttaube Stadttaube (Columba livia f. domestica) Systematik Klasse: Vögel (Aves) …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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