Turbit

The Turbit is an old fancy pigeon breed in the owl and frill family, developed in Britain from short-faced pigeons associated with the Near East and Mediterranean trade. It is a compact bird with a rounded head, short beak, shell crest, clean legs, and a frilled breast. Many Turbits have a white body with colored wing shields, giving the breed a crisp, formal look in the show pen. It is related in type and history to other owl pigeons, but the combination of crest, frill, and shield marking gives the Turbit its own identity.

Modern Turbits are kept almost entirely for exhibition and breed preservation. Selection focuses on a balanced head, neat crest, correct frill, clear shield color, and a body that remains vigorous enough to breed naturally. Short-beaked fancy pigeons can vary in parenting ability, so breeders watch new pairs closely through hatching and the first days of feeding. A Turbit loft should be dry and uncrowded, with bathing water offered often enough to keep white feathering clean. Buyers should look for sound nostrils, good weight, and active behavior, not just an attractive head.

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