FLYMPH FORUM

Has anyone ever used pigeon for fly tying? If not why not. There are so many you'd think.........

I've used band-tailed pigeon before. Very nice feathers. This is a wild native game bird that summers here in the PAcific Northwest and winters in Mexico. I did a few years of research with a doctoral student on them for Oregon State . As you can see they have dun wing feathers, beautiful light pink breast feathers and a peacock colored collar feather all wonderfully sized for soft hackles. I have been out of feathers for years though. I also use mourning dove.

i've used Pigeon feathers when i've found them, for soft hackles.....along with many other feathers off many other birds......scads of other birds. If i find it, and i like it, i'll use it. i had Pigeons when i was a kid around 12 yrs. old, a half a dozen or so, for a year or two........homing Pigeons.........wish i had saved some of those feathers.............who knew.

As usual I had to check out Homing Pigeons because I knew nothing about them. Interesting wikipedia 411. But I still don't think I could I.D. one on the streets of L.A. This is one species that all look alike to me, and evoke the thought of BB or shotgun.
Next time I see on of those gorgeous necks on a dead dumb A pigeon, I hope I have the eggs to go a pluck a few feathers from it.

fflutterffly wrote:Has anyone ever used pigeon for fly tying? If not why not. There are so many you'd think.........

There are a number of patterns which specify pigeon feathers, although some people avoided using them. If you have some then use them.

TL
MC

Ariel, a park/city pigeon is a FILTHY creature.........ware gloves, or carry antibacterial wipes and zip lock bags. They're, (as most birds are) covered in mites as well.

Gorgeous pink hue breast fetahers though...