Oriental Roller Pigeon: Breed Guide

The Oriental Roller is from the family of roller pigeons.

These are named for their ability to “roll” (somersault) in the air and are produced through selective breeding.

The most common roller pigeon is the Birmingham Roller.

Oriental Roller Origins

The Oriental Roller pigeon is a domestic fancy pigeon that was popularised in the United Kingdom.

However, it is a descendant of the rock pigeon and is believed to have originated in parts of Asia and the Middle East.

The Oriental Roller is also called the flying Oriental Roller and the Turkish Oriental Roller.

It was popular in the United Kingdom in the 1800s and is thought to be one of the ancestors of the Birmingham Roller, which was developed in England in the 19th century.

Rolling pigeons like it are said to be mentioned in Persian manuscripts as early as the twelfth century.

Oriental Roller Pigeon Appearance

An Oriental Roller is a little larger than a Birmingham Roller. It has a distinctive look where it carries its wings below its upturned tail.

The tail also has around 14 to 16 feathers, where most pigeons have around 12 tail feathers. Expect your bird to grow to around 32cm to 34cm in height, and most mature birds have a bodyweight of around 280g to 400 grams.

You may see some of your Oriental Roller birds shake their neck. This is a natural mannerism, though it is a recessive trait, so it isn’t all that common.

In general, the Oriental Roller as a show pigeon is now accepted in all colors in the USA, but originally, they were only shown if they were black, white, and/or almond.

Oriental Roller pigeons are patterned, check or mixed, often with an abundance of kite or bronze colors. Orientals have a dilution factor that allows yellow, silver and buff colors to appear.

Their Flying Patterns

A roller’s aerial acrobatics are believed to be natural instincts in what some assume is a defence against hawks.

Though the Oriental performs similar somersaults in flight to other rollers, they also do other twists and various aerial moves.

They do not like to fly together as much as the Birmingham Roller.

Instead, they like to fly with friends, but will do their own thing in the air and take a more individualistic flying pattern.

These could be one of the oldest rolling breeds, and despite what it says on some sites online, they do fly in kits if given the chance.

The Oriental Roller’s Lack of an Oil Gland

One of the more interesting facts about this pigeon is that, according to some sources, it lacks a uropygial (oil) gland, like Amazon parrots and a minority of other pigeons and doves. In most birds, this two-lobed gland sits at the base of the tail.

The oil drains down into a papilla, which expresses a clear oily fluid that birds use while preening.

It keeps feathers well maintained, it makes them more waterproof and even has antibacterial and anti-fungal components.

The lack of this gland leaves the bird more susceptible to harsh environments where parasites and certain bacteria may damage their feathers.

However, to make up for the lack of an oil gland, the bird has powder down feathers, which break down into a fine powder that helps keep its plumage in condition.

With good care and regular bathing, its feathers stay in good condition.

Even so, it is best to protect it from harsh conditions and from parasites.

Breeding the Oriental Roller

The most important thing is to make sure that you have a pure Oriental Roller, and to pair birds of the same breed if you want offspring that keep the breed’s typical look and flight.

Allowing your birds to fly in the open air and get lots of exercise often helps the birds socialize and build a relationship, which makes breeding a little more efficient in the long run, though it depends on how you exercise your pigeons.

Breeding Oriental Roller pigeons is not that different to breeding other pigeons.

When you put a pair together, make sure they are well fed and have a quiet, comfortable nest box, as they may not eat properly if they are too distracted with each other.

Keep your pigeon areas clean, but not spotless (that is, there is no need to scrub out the corners every time).

Maintaining good hygiene is best for younger birds because a weakened immune system in a bird’s earlier years makes it more likely you will have a sickly or easily ill bird in later life.

Character

The bird sometimes flies in a very nervous and darting manner, but that doesn’t mean the bird is nervous by nature.

If your bird is normalized with humans, other birds, and the wide outdoors, then most consider the Oriental Roller to be a very confident and human-friendly bird.

It is the bird’s confidence that makes it a suitable candidate for training, such as training it to fly in a group or on its own.

Sources:

Last updated 24 October 2026 · Types