Old German Nun
The Old German Nun is a traditional German fancy pigeon whose name comes from the hooded impression created by its markings and, in many standards, a crest. As a domestic pigeon breed, it is part of the color and form side of Columba livia rather than a production or racing strain. The classic nun look uses a mostly white bird set off by colored areas such as the head, tail, and flight feathers, with the exact distribution depending on the standard followed. Good examples look balanced, bright-eyed, and clean in feather, not heavy or loose.
Old German Nuns are usually kept by exhibition fanciers and small loft hobbyists who enjoy marked breeds. They do best with clean perches and regular baths because white plumage shows dirt quickly, and breeding lofts need close marking notes from each pair. Selection should not focus on color alone; birds still need sound legs, normal beaks, and parent behavior strong enough to rear youngsters. When buying, compare the bird to the standard used by the local club, since nun breeds and nun-marked tumblers are easy to confuse in casual listings.
Colors: Almond, Ash Red, Bar, Barless, Black, Blue, Brown, Checker, Dilute, Dun, Grizzle, Indigo, Mottle, Opal, Pied, Recessive Red, Red, Silver, Splash, Spread, White, Yellow
