Messenger pigeons were used as early as 1150 in Baghdad and also later by Genghis Khan. Other experiments have shown that altering the perceived time of day with artifical lighting or using air conditioning to eliminate odors in the pigeons' home roost affected the pigeons' ability to return home. Charles Walcott at Cornell was able to demonstrate that one strain of pigeons was confused by a magnetic anomaly in the Earth that had no effect on another strain of birds. Various experiments suggest that different breeds of homing pigeons rely on different cues to different extents. Research by Floriano Papi (Italy, early 1970s) and newer research published in the February, 2004 issue of Animal Behaviour suggest that pigeons also orient themselves by odors and/or combinations of odors. Near their home lofts, in areas they have previously visited, pigeons probably are guided by natural and artificial landmarks. Some researchers believe that pigeons navigate by Earth's magnetic field. Some research has been performed with the intention of discovering how birds can find their way back from distant places they have never visited before. Navigation Main article: Pigeon navigation This bird is to be distinguished from the carrier pigeon, an entirely different breed. Their average flying speed over moderate distances is around 30 miles per hour, but they can achieve bursts of speed up to 60 mph.

Flights as long as 1689 miles have been recorded by exceptional birds in competition pigeon racing. The birds can carry messages (frequently written on cigarette paper) in a small tube attached to one leg.

Because any pigeon generally returns to its own nest and its own mate, it was relatively easy to selectively breed the birds that repeatedly found their way home over long distances. The homing pigeon is a variety of domesticated Rock Pigeon ( Columba livia) that has been selectively bred to be able to find its way home over extremely long distances.

Homing pigeon