Fun English Trumpeter Pigeon Facts For Kids

Moumita Dutta
Oct 20, 2022 By Moumita Dutta
Originally Published on Aug 18, 2021
Edited by Isobel Murphy
English Trumpeter pigeon facts let you know about the history of this bird.
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Age: 3-18
Read time: 6.1 Min

The English Trumpeter pigeon is a descendent of the rock pigeon, created by selective breeding. They belong to the family of Columbidae, which also includes other pigeons and doves. This breed is known for its appearance and the famous trumpeting sound it makes.

Being a fancy pigeon breed, English Trumpeter pigeons are kept as pets and are also displayed in exhibitions. This bird originated in the United Kingdom, but a modern variety was developed in the United States. The English Trumpeter pigeon has very elaborate muff, crest, foot, and hock feathers. This breed comes in a variety of colors which are categorized under baldhead, self, and splash. The English Trumpeter is known for its behavior and disposition. This bird is very calm in nature and does not have a lot of needs, making them a relatively easy domestic pigeon breed to keep. They are very poor fliers due to the feathers on their body. Additionally, they are considered to be shy and lazy birds that do not breed well.

To learn more about the English Trumpeter pigeon, keep reading! For more relatable content, check out these German nun pigeon facts and brown cuckoo-dove facts for kids.

English Trumpeter Pigeon Interesting Facts

What type of animal is an English Trumpeter pigeon?

The English Trumpeter pigeon is a domestic pigeon breed, known for its feathers, its crest, and the trumpeting sound it makes.

What class of animal does an English Trumpeter pigeon belong to?

The English Trumpeter breed of domestic pigeon belongs to the class Aves. They are part of the Columbidae family, which also has other members like the Eurasian collared dove and the diamond dove.

How many English Trumpeter pigeons are there in the world?

Though the exact population of the English Trumpeter pigeon breed is not known, these pigeons are considered as one of the more common pigeon breeds. It can be assumed that they have a stable population as they are currently bred in captivity.

Where does an English Trumpeter pigeon live?

The history of the English Trumpeter pigeon is quite interesting as this breed originated in the United Kingdom, however, the modern variety that we see today was developed in the United States. As a domestic or show pigeon breed, these birds can be found throughout the world.

What is an English Trumpeter pigeon's habitat?

Being a domestic bird breed, English Trumpeter pigeons are most commonly found in households. They live in large cages in their own nest boxes. They are tolerant to all kinds of climate and can be found in different climatic zones.

Who do English Trumpeter pigeons live with?

This breed of pigeon can easily live with humans and other pigeon breeds. They are best kept in pairs, with one male and one female pigeon living together. In general, pigeons are considered to be social in nature and love to have company.

How long does an English Trumpeter pigeon live?

The exact lifespan of the English Trumpeter pigeon breed is not known. However, another Trumpeter pigeon breed (the Bokhara Trumpeter pigeon) has a lifespan of between five and seven years. Hence, the lifespan of the English Trumpeter pigeon can be considered to be similar.

How do they reproduce?

Since this pigeon is quite lazy, they do not breed well. Nevertheless, it can be assumed that their breeding patterns are similar to those of rock pigeons, who lay one to three white eggs in their breeding season. Pigeons are also known to have mating rituals before fertilization takes place.

What is their conservation status?

Being a domesticated breed, the conservation status of the English Trumpeter pigeon has not been listed by the International Union For Conservation Of Nature (IUCN). These pigeons do not seem to be under any threat, unlike the pink pigeon, which is one of the rarest pigeons and has the conservation status of Vulnerable.

English Trumpeter Pigeon Fun Facts

What do English Trumpeter pigeons look like?

Being a fancy pigeon breed, the English Trumpeter pigeon has a beautiful appearance. They have a crest on the head which is cape-like and the crest remains thrown back to expose the face of this bird. However, what makes this fancy pigeon stand out is the muffs on its feet! These muffs can grow to become as large as their flight feathers. English Trumpeters can be found in a variety of colors, some of which include black and white, and yellow. Their colors are listed under three categories called baldhead, self, and splash.

The English Trumpeter pigeon has distinct vocalizations.

*Please note that this is an image of a German double-crested Trumpeter, not an English Trumpeter pigeon. If you have an image of an English Trumpeter pigeon please let us know at hello@kidadl.com.

How cute are they?

English Trumpeters are extremely cute birds, not only because of their appearance but also because of their behavior.

How do they communicate?

English Trumpeter pigeons have a very peculiar call which they use to communicate. This call is certainly louder than that of other breeds of pigeon. Their call resembles a drum-like sound and it has rising and falling tones. The name, 'trumpeter' was given to these fancy pigeons, due to the trumpeting or drumming vocalizations they produce.

How big is an English Trumpeter pigeon?

English Trumpeters are considered to be a small or medium-sized breed. Their length is usually about 11 in (28 cm). In comparison to the Nicobar pigeon breed, which measures between 21-23 in (53.3-58.4 cm), the English Trumpeter is considerably smaller.

How fast can an English Trumpeter pigeon move?

This pigeon is described as being a lazy breed. So, they certainly are not very fast.

How much does an English Trumpeter pigeon weigh?

The exact weight of English Trumpeters is not known. However, like other fancy pigeons, this breed has descended from the rock-pigeon, which weighs between 0.5-0.8 lb (238–380 g). Therefore, it can be assumed that English Trumpeters have a similar weight.  

What are the male and female names of the species?

Male and female English Trumpeter pigeons are known as 'cocks' and 'hens', respectively.

What would you call a baby English Trumpeter pigeon?

A baby English Trumpeter pigeon is known as a squab.

What do they eat?

Being a domesticated breed, English Trumpeters can be fed seeds, grains, chopped vegetables, and bird feed. Since the English Trumpeter has descended from the rock-pigeon which eats small quantities of insects as well, it can be inferred that English Trumpeters may also eat insects.

Are they dangerous?

An English Trumpeter is not dangerous at all. In fact, they are considered to be very calm and sweet in nature, like doves.

Would they make a good pet?

The English Trumpeter pigeon was raised to be a domesticated fancy pigeon breed. These birds make excellent pets, due to their temperament and appearance. English Trumpeter pigeon care is also quite simple and relatively easy.

Did you know...

One of the easiest ways to differentiate between the English Trumpeter pigeon and the Bokhara Trumpeter pigeon is that the Bokhara Trumpeter's face remains hidden under its crest, while the face of the English Trumpeter pigeon remains exposed due to its crest being thrown back.

Can English Trumpeter pigeons fly?

The English Trumpeter pigeon is a poor flier, mainly due to the feathers on its foot and hock, which can grow up to 10 in (25.4 cm) long. Therefore, an English Trumpeter pigeon flying is a rare sight.

How much does a fancy pigeon cost?

The cost of fancy pigeons depends on their rarity and the breeder. For example, the average English Trumpeter pigeon cost is between $100-$300. Bokhara Trumpeters are also fancy pigeons and are often more expensive than the English Trumpeter, as they cost nearly $500. On the other hand, the king pigeon or show king pigeon breed costs around $150, which is less than the cost of the other two breeds.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds from our Old German owl pigeon surprising facts and green junglefowl fun facts for kids pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable pigeon coloring pages.

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Written by Moumita Dutta

Bachelor of Arts specializing in Journalism and Mass Communication, Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management

Moumita Dutta picture

Moumita DuttaBachelor of Arts specializing in Journalism and Mass Communication, Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management

A content writer and editor with a passion for sports, Moumita has honed her skills in producing compelling match reports and stories about sporting heroes. She holds a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Calcutta University, alongside a postgraduate diploma in Sports Management.

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