Farm animals
Moravian Ostrich pigeon
Columba livia f. domestica
Species originDomesticated
Audio guide
Listen to the story of this animal
0:000:00
Moravian Ostrich pigeon
- Description
- An old Czech pigeon breed with a sturdy, upright stance and smooth, close-lying plumage. An adult bird weighs some 500–650 g. The hallmark is the "ostrich" marking: a largely white body with a coloured wing shield, coloured head and coloured tail. Several colour varieties are recognised — black, red, yellow and blue.
- Habitat
- A domestic breed that does not occur in the wild. It is kept in lofts on farmyards and smallholdings, where it needs room to fly out.
- Diet
- Grain — wheat, maize, peas, barley and oilseeds. Access to grit and minerals is essential; they aid digestion and the formation of eggshells.
- Reproduction
- A clutch normally holds two eggs, incubated in turn by both parents for 17–18 days. For the first few days the parents feed the squabs on crop milk, and the young leave the nest after roughly four weeks.
- Lifespan
- Typically 10–15 years.
- Did you know?
- It is one of the oldest and most widespread Czech pigeon breeds and is listed among the country's national genetic resources. The name has nothing to do with the ostrich itself — it comes from the bird's upright, proud bearing.
Homeland & habitat
Where the moravian ostrich pigeon lives
Spin the globe to see where the species comes from and where it lives today.
Moravia (Czechia)An old Czech domestic pigeon breed kept in lofts on farmyards and smallholdings; it originates from the Moravia region of Czechia and does not occur in the wild.
Loading globe…
Native rangeIntroduced / also today
Drag to rotate · double-click to recentre on the homeland
10 facts about the moravian ostrich pigeon
The cards keep rotating — hover with your mouse to pause them.
- GroupFarm animalsMěkkozobí (Columbiformes) · Holubovití (Columbidae)
- Scientific nameColumba livia f. domesticaLatin name of the species
- Homeland & habitatDomácí plemeno, které se ve volné přírodě nevyskytuje. Chová se v holubnících na dvorech a menších hospodářstvích, kde potřebuje prostor pro vylétávání.
- DietZrniny — pšenice, kukuřice, hrách, ječmen a olejniny. Nezbytný je přístup ke grytu a minerálům, které pomáhají trávení a tvorbě skořápek.
- ReproductionSnůška má zpravidla dvě vejce, na nichž se střídají oba rodiče, a sezení trvá 17–18 dní. Holoubata krmí rodiče prvních několik dní takzvaným voletním mlékem a hnízdo opouštějí zhruba po čtyřech týdnech.
- LifespanPrůměrně 10–15 let.
- Conservation statusDomesticatedA domesticated form — not found in the wild
- Did you know…?Patří k nejstarším a nejrozšířenějším českým plemenům holubů a je vedeno mezi národními genetickými zdroji. Jméno nemá s pštrosem nic společného — vzniklo podle vzpřímeného, hrdého postoje ptáka.
- Where in the zooArea A — the farm animal yard
- How many we keep♂ 5 · ♀ 5 · 6 youngtotal: 16
Support the care of our animals
A symbolic adoption contributes to feeding, veterinary care and the development of the exhibits — and you get a certificate and updates about your animal.
Browse adoptions
