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- Pigeon glossary
Glossary
Pigeon glossary
The words Egyptian fanciers actually use — from kantara and abshad to ring and race — with their English equivalents and a plain definition.
All categoriesAnatomy & bodyColours & markingsBreedingHealthGeneticsShowing & judgingRacing & flyingLoft & equipmentGeneral
7 terms
F
- Flying pigeons (high-flyers)الحمام الطيّارRacing & flying
- Breeds kept for the pleasure of group flight, altitude and tumbling (highflyers, tumblers) rather than racing or showing. Judged by flight duration and height, flown from…
H
- HomingالعودةRacing & flying
- The pigeon's innate ability to return home from far away using the sun, magnetic field and landmarks. Progressive training over increasing distances turns instinct into r…
L
- Liberation (release)الإطلاقRacing & flying
- The moment the baskets open at the race point. Time and place are recorded because speed is calculated from them, and all entrants must be released from the same point.
R
- Racing homerالزاجلRacing & flying
- The world's best-known racing breed, able to return to its loft from hundreds of kilometres. Bred for performance (speed and homing) rather than looks, with famous strain…
T
- Training tossesالتدريب (التوس)Racing & flying
- Taking birds a set distance and releasing them to fly home, increasing the distance step by step before the season. Regular tosses build fitness and confidence in orienta…
- Tumbler / rollerالشقلابRacing & flying
- Flying pigeons that somersault backwards in flight — an inherited trait in Syrian, Russian and Uzbek tumblers. Clean, fast rolls without dropping are wanted.
V
- Velocity (m/min)السرعة (متر/دقيقة)Racing & flying
- The race ranking measure: distance from release point to loft in metres divided by flight time in minutes. A bird returning to a farther loft can win without arriving fir…