If there’s one effect that lockdown and this whole crisis has had on me, it’s that I appreciate nature and wildlife so much more now. I always loved greenery and animals but it’s on a whole new level now. I often find myself in awe of the sheer number of species that exist on the planet. For instance, did you know that there are curly pigeons called Frillbacks that look like birds with perms? Now you do!
- Yes, these really do exist. The first time I saw a picture of a Frillback, I thought for sure that it was just a regular old pigeon that had been Photoshopped. What can I say? I’m a natural skeptic. However, I can assure you that this curly little bird is 100% real and that really cracks me up for some reason.
- Yes, they’re pigeons… just fancy ones. The Frillback is a breed of fancy pigeon that came about due to selective breeding. The domesticated birds are descended from rock pigeons but they’re notable for, well, their curly feathers. It’s unclear why someone decided that we needed a curly pigeon in our lives but I’m glad they did!
- The frillback pigeon comes in a variety of colors. While most regular ol’ pigeons are just your standard gray, the Frillback can be white, black, yellow, recessive red, blue-black, and so many other combos of colors that it’s mindblowing. Their relative quality is judged by their color along with their size, the shape of their heads, the eyes, the beak, and the muff. In other words, fancy pigeon rearing is serious business.
- Only the top layer of the Frillback’s fur is curly. Their fancy hairdos don’t keep these pigeons from flying or anything. They can do that just fine, though they do apparently prefer getting into mischief by walking into places they’re not supposed to be.
- They’re a popular pet choice for bird enthusiasts. Given their unique appearance and their adventurous personalities, that makes so much sense to me. I can’t imagine how you’d go about getting a Frillback pigeon of your own if you wanted one and you should probably know a lot about birds if you’re going to venture into owning one, but lots of people do and they love them!
