Within the animal kingdom, many creatures are exceptionally misunderstood. One of the most prominent examples is pigeons. Pigeons belong to the columbidae family, which also includes doves. There are 344 different species of pigeons, with the most common species being the rock dove. This pigeon is frequently referred to as the common pigeon and the domestic pigeon descends from this species. Pigeons are the oldest bird to be domesticated, with research suggesting it date back 10,000 years.
Domestic pigeons are often remembered for their roles in various wars, as war pigeons were used as military messengers. Pigeons belonging the the Racing Homer breed, which were bred for their homing ability and speed, were used throughout World War I and World War II. In fact, their contributions were so significant that 32 pigeons were awarded with the Dickin Medal. Many of these birds became recognizable and their job was extremely dangerous, as enemies would try to shoot them down. One of the most well known war pigeons was known as The Mocker, who flew 52 missions before being wounded.
Today, pigeons have largely been retired from their duties, but there are still millions of them to admire worldwide. In fact, many tattoo fanatics have celebrated their love for these birds through permanent body art. Take a look at some of our favorite pigeon tattoos from talented tattoo artists around the world in the gallery below, then let us know your favorite tattoo from this list in the comments section on social media.
Source: www.inkedmag.com