Calling Pigeon
Discussion
Odd one this but I've come home from work and appear to have aquired a pigeon/dove (it's pure white and looks like a pigeon but may be a dove?) anyway it's obviously domesticated has no nerves about being handled and has a red plastic foot ring ( no number) no obvious injuries and it's taking food and water happily, it may just be knackered and after poncing b&b but I have no idea what to do with it. If it was an injured wood pigeon I'd introduce it mr shovel as the kindest quickest way but this is possibly a dove and obviously belongs to someone?
According to this page here if it's a racing pigeon it might well have the owner's phone number printed on its wing feathers.
There is no formal distinction between a "dove" and a "pigeon" - it's just an artefact of the English language. In German (or Russian) you'd just call it "Taube" (or "duva") 
What is commonly referred to as a "dove" is simply an all-white colour variant of an ordinary pigeon - and that's what you've found.
You've done the right thing so far, giving it food and water; if it's able to fly properly - which I'm guessing is the case - then just leave it with access to the outside world and let it make up its own mind where to go next
Unless it does turn out to be ill/injured/unable to fly properly, though, don't carry on feeding it tomorrow unless you want it to hang around
What is commonly referred to as a "dove" is simply an all-white colour variant of an ordinary pigeon - and that's what you've found.
Eggman said:
if it's a racing pigeon it might well have the owner's phone number printed on its wing feathers.
This is true. But unfortunately those who race pigeons are not well known for good treatment of those who decide to stop off for a rest on the way. Not uncommon to simply kill them. So among those who like pigeons for their own sake as opposed to playing silly games with them it is not considered the done thing to try and return them.You've done the right thing so far, giving it food and water; if it's able to fly properly - which I'm guessing is the case - then just leave it with access to the outside world and let it make up its own mind where to go next
Unless it does turn out to be ill/injured/unable to fly properly, though, don't carry on feeding it tomorrow unless you want it to hang around
Whilst Googling to see if the red ring meant anything I found this page from America which says it'll probably want to rest for 24-48 hours and then it'll be ready to go home.
There's also some advice on how to look after it, although it looks like you've got that pretty much sussed already.
(ETA: ...and I see our local expert has arrived in the meantime!
)
There's also some advice on how to look after it, although it looks like you've got that pretty much sussed already.
(ETA: ...and I see our local expert has arrived in the meantime!
)Edited by Eggman on Monday 28th June 19:48
This might explain things Pigeon, quite a surprise at the end and stuff I didnt know.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8YygyjFtoE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8YygyjFtoE
Move aside here, racing pigeon owner coming through 
As said see if there is a number on the ring to call the owner. Usually (and even if they don't answer) the best thing to do (standard procedure) is just feed it whatever (bread, bird food etc) and give it 3 or so days to rest. An averagely sized cardboard box will do.
After letting it rest release it but release it early in the morning like when you're about to go to work. It may be a homing pigeon (wider beak, generally bigger) in which case it may be from 100's of miles away.
Obviously if the weather is really bad then keep it in for another day.
Eating it will be illegal since it's someones pet
As said see if there is a number on the ring to call the owner. Usually (and even if they don't answer) the best thing to do (standard procedure) is just feed it whatever (bread, bird food etc) and give it 3 or so days to rest. An averagely sized cardboard box will do.
After letting it rest release it but release it early in the morning like when you're about to go to work. It may be a homing pigeon (wider beak, generally bigger) in which case it may be from 100's of miles away.
Obviously if the weather is really bad then keep it in for another day.
Eating it will be illegal since it's someones pet
Not much use to you, but we had what appeared to me to be a racing pigeon in our garden one evening recently.
It allowed me to pick it up in the way i'd seen Jack Duckworth do on Corrie so I figured all it needed was for me to release it into the sky by throwing it upward and releasing, also like you see them do on TV (Geordie Racer sprang to mind).
ALWAYS MAKE SURE THE PIGEON IS NOT INJURED BEFORE YOU THROW IT IN THE AIR.
It doesn't look good when neighbours see you throwing an injured bird over the back fence.
I left it for the cats in the end.
RIP
It allowed me to pick it up in the way i'd seen Jack Duckworth do on Corrie so I figured all it needed was for me to release it into the sky by throwing it upward and releasing, also like you see them do on TV (Geordie Racer sprang to mind).
ALWAYS MAKE SURE THE PIGEON IS NOT INJURED BEFORE YOU THROW IT IN THE AIR.
It doesn't look good when neighbours see you throwing an injured bird over the back fence.
I left it for the cats in the end.
RIP
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