Fantail

The Fantail is a popular  breed of fancy pigeon. It is characterised by a fan-shaped tail composed of 30 to 40 feathers, abnormally more than most members of the pigeon family, which usually have 12 to 14 feathers. The breed is thought to have originated in India and china. There are several subvarieties, such as the english fantiol, the India, and the Thai Fantail. Charles Darwin used it as one of the examples in the first chapter of On the origion Of species  Fantails are often used by pigeon flyers in the training of racing pigeons and Tipples. They are used as droppers in that they are placed on the loft landing board as a signal to the flying birds to come in and be fed.There is a feather mutation called Silky that gives an interesting lace effect to a Fantails tail feathers. Fantails with this mutation are known as Silky or Lace Fantails.

Fantail

Fantail

Fantail

Fantail