Did know that—scientifically speaking—there’s no difference between a dove and a pigeon? Yet a dove’s more colorful counterpart has been dragged through the cultural mud. In doing so, we’ve missed out on the rich history and amazing features of this incredible creature. Andrew Blechman (author of Pigeons: The Fascinating Saga of the World’s Most Revered and Reviled Bird) is here to share the jaw-dropping details.

A few curiosities you’ll uncover in this episode:

• The world event that led to the cultural downfall of pigeons in America
• The loving history between pigeons and humans
• How a pigeon can find its way home from hundreds of miles away

Did You Know?

Genghis Khan and his grandson created a pigeon post that spanned—get this—one-sixth of the entire world.

Credits

Curious State is a Quick and Dirty Tips podcast hosted and produced by Doug Fraser.

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Have a question? Or a topic you’d like covered on the show? Maybe you just love sending emails? Whichever shoe fits, tie it on and send me a message at curious@quickanddirtytips.com.