What is this weird bird?

[hailtryfan]

This bird has been roosting on my neighbours balcony for the past 2 nights. I've never seen anything like it before! At fisrt I though it was a juvenile dove or pigeon but I can find any similar pictures on the internet. It is about the same size a wood pigeon.

Anyone got a clue?

[Nicos]

Looks like a German Nun pidgeon....think someone has lost a pet...can you try and catch it ( likely to be ringed ) or let the local pigeon society know it's around?

[Two_Sheds]

Yes, it's definitely a fancy (specially bred) pigeon

I'd be devastated if my pet birds escaped. I'd put an ad on freecycle or somewhere to find the owner, then tell them where you saw it.

[21again]

May sound a bit daft but you should have a local telephone number for the police for your area, ours is 0300 123 4455. If you have a prob that isn't an emergency they have asked that we ring that. My husband is under the impression it is a nationwide number that routes you to your local area office.

I would give them a ring as someone may have reported the bird missing.

[hailtryfan]

Thanks for the replies guys. It has not returned since Saturday night. If I see it again I'll try and catch it as like you have said it's an escaped pet. Didn't seem to have a ring though. According to the internet it's called a crested helmet pigeon.

[Nicos]

According to the internet it's called a crested helmet pigeon.

It does indeed- strange how that image of mine linked with the German Nun....on further research the brown goes lower down...so I'm happy to say I stand corrected!!!

Hope you do manage to catch it- the weather is getting colder again.
Maybe it found it's way home???? Fingers crossed eh??

[lizzylemon]

Despite the fact its a fancy breed, it could still a racing pigeon. It was probably resting on way home during a long flight / race. Racing pigeons often take a day or too along the way to rest when they're tired. Most pigeons have rings but sometimes they have the racing number stamped under a wing in ink. Best left to themselves unless they look injured.