The Nun is a domesticated fancy pigeon named for its black and white colouring and crest, which resemble a nun’s habit. It is one of the oldest pigeon breeds, with a reference from the 1600s, and is thought to have ancestral ties to the Helmet pigeon.
Other Names For The Nun Pigeon
While Nun pigeon is the most common name for this breed, it also goes by another name.
In some circles it’s referred to as the Dutch Shell pigeon.
In most countries, though, the breed is known by a name meaning nun, such as Nonne in German.
The nun name has stuck due to its distinctive black and white coloring and crest, which look similar to a nun’s habit.
Nun Pigeon Origins
The Nun pigeon is considered one of the oldest breeds, though the exact origins are unknown.
There is a reference to it in the 1600s by Aldrovandi (an Italian naturalist who was instrumental in the creation of Bologna’s botanical gardens, one of the oldest in Europe), and also by Moore in 1735 in “A Treatise on Domestic Pigeons”.
The Nun pigeon is thought to have begun as a flying type related to the tumbler pigeon before moving on to its current status as a show pigeon.
The modern show Nun is said to have been refined from the 1800s onwards, in the UK and in continental Europe.
The Nun pigeon was referred to by Charles Darwin in his book, “The Variation of Plants and Animals Under Domestication”, and in correspondence with a Mr. James Murray Fleming.
In this letter (opens in new tab), the correspondent notes that Darwin had used a nun pigeon in his breeding programs to produce a fancy pigeon and was rather disparaging, describing the nun as “not a high-bred” bird.
Nun Pigeon Appearance
A smaller breed, the Nun is described as short and stocky (opens in new tab), reaching a height of 23-24 cm (without the shell crest) and length of 25 cm.
It grows to an average weight of about 370 grams.
It is the shell crest that gives the bird its name.
The upturned set of feathers at its neck gives it the appearance of wearing a nun’s wimple, giving the bird the appearance of being bigger than it is.
The upturned feathers give it a similar look to the Helmet and Mookee pigeon breeds.
Breeders aim for the crest to be as big and showy as possible.
The Nun pigeon is mostly white with a coloured head, bib, tail and flight feathers (often black), and has pearl-coloured eyes.
Nun pigeons don’t have any feathers on their feet and their beak is usually straight.
They have a well-rounded chest, and their body narrows toward the tail.
Their tails tend to be narrow and short with 12 feathers.
While the Nun pigeon is mostly white, the coloured feathers appear in a variety of hues.
That includes black, dun, khaki, brown, silver, blue, red, indigo, lavender and yellow.
They are sometimes banded in shades of brown or khaki.
Nun Pigeon Behaviour
Like many pigeon breeds, the Nun is docile and friendly.
That makes it easy to tame and enables them to be kept as pets.
They make excellent exhibition birds, and they are still capable fliers.
They are friendly and sociable and usually do well interacting with other pigeons.
If you’re looking for a friendly bird that is easy to tame and take care of, and is enjoyable to watch and interact with, the Nun pigeon is a great choice.
Last updated 31 October 2026 · Types