domesticated pigeon

The domestic pigeon (Columba livia "domestica" or Columba livia forma domestica) is a domesticated bird derived from the rock dove (Columba livia), of which it is also a subspecies. Although often termed a "subspecies", the domesticated pigeon does not constitute an accepted zoological subspecies of the rock dove, but a collection of over 350 breeds. The rock dove is among the world's first birds to be domesticated; Mesopotamian cuneiform tablets mention the domestication of pigeons more than 5,000 years ago, as do Egyptian hieroglyphs.

Pigeons have held historical importance to humans as food, pets, symbolic animals, and messengers. Due to their homing ability, pigeons have been used to deliver messages, including war pigeons during the two world wars. City pigeons, which are feral birds, are generally seen as pests, mainly due to their droppings and a reputation for spreading disease.