From the use point of view, racing pigeons are naturally used for competitions. However, this description is not accurate. Some racing pigeons may only be breeding pigeons all their lives and not take part in the competition. It should be said that racing pigeons are the general name of several pigeons cultivated by people in order to achieve the purpose of the competition, among which the most important ones are racing pigeons who directly participate in the competition, breeding pigeons with excellent pedigree and nanny pigeons who take care of their young pigeons on behalf of their parents. Some breeding pigeons and nanny pigeons may be or used to be racing pigeons, and some are not, but their fundamental purpose of existence is the same.

In terms of ability, racing pigeons should have the characteristics of fast flight speed and strong homing ability. The strength of racing pigeons in this respect is the most emphasized by pigeon breeders, and it is also the key to distinguish them from the other two types of pigeons. After long-term cultivation and feeding, racing pigeons are more and more different from meat pigeons and ornamental pigeons in speed and homing.

From the management requirements, we have no special requirements for meat pigeons and ornamental pigeons, so there are obvious differences in management methods: meat pigeons focus on customs, racing pigeons focus on flying, while ornamental pigeons are more casual. The training of pigeon racing should start from infancy, and the degree of training is similar to that of training athletes.

From the blood point of view, only racing pigeons attach great importance to the inheritance of the excellent characteristics of the previous generation. Meat pigeons and ornamental pigeons are usually divided into varieties, and they don't pay attention to pedigree, while racing pigeons pay so much attention to pedigree that there is a saying that "it is better to raise bad pigeons from bad pigeons than to raise good pigeons from bad pigeons". (Belgian pigeon breeder Frey Bruggen)

Can you recognize racing pigeons at a glance from their appearance, or even their quality? It's hard to do this. Because nowadays, there are many kinds and shapes of racing pigeons. For example, the Modena pigeon in Italy has a short round body and long legs, while the Cario pigeon in Britain has a particularly developed nose tumor and eye ring. Although it is a racing pigeon, its strange shape is more like a pigeon for people to watch. Another example is Zhanfei and Maige in Britain, which weigh nearly 800 grams and have the conditions of a meat pigeon, but they are fast pigeons among racing pigeons. But for most racing pigeons, they still have some basic characteristics:

8? 5. Most of the fuselage is streamlined, which is wide at the top and narrow at the bottom, wide at the front and narrow at the back, which can effectively reduce the wind resistance during flight;

8? 5 moderate weight. 400~600 grams of male pigeons and 350~500 grams of female pigeons ensure both strength and dexterity;

8? 5 brawn is strong and elastic, well-proportioned, standing tall and straight, with a bright eye and a loud voice;

8? Feathers are bright, dense, elastic, close to the body and have the ability to resist wind and rain;

8? 5 lively and active, good at flying. Well-trained racing pigeons are quick-witted and it is difficult for strangers to get close.

A master pigeon breeder can identify the quality of a racing pigeon from the appearance and spirit, which is accumulated through long-term observation and comparison of pigeons.