Lebanon pigeon

Lore & Background

The Lebanon pigeon is a rare Asiatic breed thought to have originated in Syria. The earliest European report on the breed appears in a French book by Boitard and Corbie published in 1824, where it was called 'Pigeon miroite rouge de Damas'—the red spangled pigeon of Damascus. The breed was imported to Germany by Dr. Binder of Triest in the 1880s, and was named 'Lebanon' after the Lebanese mountains of its homeland.

The breed arrived in the United States around 1955, imported directly from Damascus by a Mr. Shaheed. Lebanons are usually classed with Syrian Dewlaps, but typically have little or no dewlap. They are a flying breed about the size of a homing pigeon, and have been selected mostly for their striking coloration. They are colored red, yellow, blue and black, often with white bars or spangles.

Reader's Guide

The Lebanon pigeon holds significance as a rare breed within the domestic pigeon family, representing a distinct lineage selected primarily for its striking coloration rather than utility. Its history traces back to Syria and the Lebanese mountains, with early documentation in a French book from 1824. The breed's importation to Germany in the 1880s and later to the United States around 1955 illustrates its gradual spread beyond its homeland. As a flying breed about the size of a homing pigeon, it is typically classed with Syrian Dewlaps but lacks a prominent dewlap. Its legacy lies in its aesthetic appeal—colors including red, yellow, blue, and black, often with white bars or spangles—and its status as a rare breed that preserves genetic diversity among domesticated pigeons. The Lebanon pigeon is a descendant of the rock dove, like all domestic pigeons, and its continued existence depends on dedicated breeders. Its mention in historical pigeon literature and its inclusion in breed lists underscore its place in the broader context of pigeon fancying and selective breeding traditions.