Seen yesterday in Teruel, Spain.
This is my second sighting of such a creature. The first time (different city so not the same bird) I didn’t get a good look, and suspected the poor pigeon had somehow been, um, artistically vandalized. But this one was clearly natural (PS: or not, see comments), with symmetric coloration merging perfectly into the iridescent breast.
Some cursory research did not turn up clues. Did its domestic ancestor mate with its budgie cagemate? Nah, that can’t be right.
Anyway, it seems that polychromatic feral pigeons are a thing.
PS. More angles:
PPS: I was fooled by a pigeon, or rather by a pigeon artist! Well done to the sleuthers here.
Got a good look, if it was painted it was an amazing job. (PS: it was exactly that.) See added photos. As mentioned, it’s not the first I’ve seen (completely different places).
Yes, I think there may have been a ring, that’s definitely a clue I should have been paying more attention to. Too distracted by the fabulous paint job!
Seriously though, I suspect a genetic quirk. Pigeons do have unusual variations due to the human selection in their history. You sometimes see ones with feathered feet for that reason. Like dogs, basically.
PS: looks like your theory is correct. The invisible hand turns out to be very human. I’m impressed.
I think they did a very good job, but I think this pigeon’s natural color is like the ones with the white backs in the background of the first pic; it makes a sort of natural canvas. In the second picture you posted it looks like a little bit of white might be peeking through there above the red.
Edit: just saw the link someone else posted about painted pigeons, mystery solved!