Originating from the Middle East, this breed is so-called because of their most distinguishing feature – the dewlap that extends from the underneath of their beaks to their throats.
What Is A ‘Dewlap’?
A dewlap is a flap of skin which is usually beneath the jaw or part of the neck. Dewlaps are not unique to the Dewlap pigeon, nor is it unique to birds.
Other animals with dewlaps include dogs (such as mastiffs, Basset hounds, English bulldogs, Bloodhounds, and the Chinese Shar-pei), moose, and most notably, the Zebu cattle of India whose dewlap can be very prominent. Some reptiles also have dewlaps.
In some avian species, such as turkeys, it is a pendulous mass of skin that hangs down under the bird’s throat.
Scientifically, it is called a caruncle (opens in new tab), which also covers other types of appendages called wattles, combs, and snoods. In some cases, these are purely ornamental additions, but dewlap colour may also indicate the good health of a bird.
Dewlaps and other types of appendages are used to attract sexual mates during mating seasons. Vibrant colours signal good health and strong genes.
Origins Of The Dewlap Pigeon
This breed originates from the Middle East and has various sub-breeds.
Adana is the most common sub-breed because that is the region in Turkey where it is believed they originally came from.
Apart from Adana Dalici Guvercini they are also known as Syrian, Beyrouth, Beirut, Turkish and Egyptian dewlaps – as you can see, the names relate to their geographical locations.
This type of pigeon has been spread all over the Middle East by avid pigeon fanciers.
There are several sub-breeds in Iraq and Iran that go under the names of Reehani, Basrar, and Mfattle.
Breed histories say Dewlap pigeons were recorded by the 17th century.
Some fanciers say ancient peoples saw them as messengers to the gods, though there is little evidence for this.
Dewlaps are an old breed, and their look is generally thought to have developed without crossing with other breeds. In the past, they were used as utility pigeons.
Dewlap Pigeon Appearance
Dewlaps are slim birds with small, rounded heads and medium-length beaks, but at a reported 600 g or so they are heavier than many other breeds.
They have very long necks.
Some breed descriptions say purebred birds have green eyes.
Dewlaps come in different colours of plumage.
They can be black, white, blue, red or checkered.
Some have a white spot above their beaks. Others have white spots on either side of their heads that are called ‘earrings’. Spots around the throats on some are called ‘necklaces’.
One particular type which displays the characteristics of the Dewlap boldly and attractively is the Syrian Tarbesh.
It is also known as the Abu Abse Wammentaube. The name Abu Abse is usually explained as “the one with the frowning look”, after its upswept head feathers and dark eyes. It has intensely black plumage with a tremendous iridescent sheen, dark eyes, unusual upswept head feathers, and 14-20 tail feathers.
Dewlaps Love To Dive
Dewlaps are noted for their diving abilities.
They are strong flyers, but it is their diving ability that amazes their keepers.
These birds give their owners heart-stopping moments because they can plummet from a great height at high speed and pull out only just above the ground.
Their wings are tucked into their body as they dive, making them look streamlined and very impressive. If you were able to get close enough to them in a dive, there’d undoubtedly be a whooshing sound as they hit top speed.
Some fanciers even claim they can out-dive a peregrine falcon, though there is no evidence for this: a diving peregrine is the fastest animal known.
Dewlap pigeons make excellent show and performance birds but are considered hard to train. Although intelligent birds, like most pigeons, it takes a lot of patience to train them to comply with commands.
One of the issues in training is that they don’t have the great homing sense other breeds have.
Summary
If you are looking for something unique for show or performance purposes, these elegant pigeons may well fit the bill, but understand it will take a lot of time and effort to get them to perform as you wish.
One dewlap breeder in the United States lamented the fact that there wasn’t much interest in these birds there because many owners and breeders aren’t willing to commit the necessary amount of time to train them.
Last updated 30 October 2026 · Types