The common feral pigeon, descended from the wild Rock Dove (Columba livia), does not possess true scarlet eyes. Their iris color is predominantly in the yellow-orange spectrum. This vibrant coloration is often mistaken for red, especially when viewed in certain lighting or at a distance. The perception of red results from a combination of pigment color and the underlying biological structure of the eye.
Defining the True Color of Pigeon Eyes
The typical coloration of the iris in an adult feral pigeon is best described as a deep orange or “gravel” color, sometimes appearing golden-yellow. This shade is considered the wild-type color for the species. The variation across this spectrum, from a bright yellow to a deeper orange-red, is normal and depends on the concentration of pigments within the iris.
The perception of a truly red eye is an optical effect caused by the dense network of blood vessels within the iris tissue. These capillaries provide a reddish background. When combined with the orange or yellow pigments, this underlying vascularity creates a rich, vermilion-like appearance.
The Role of Age and Breed in Eye Color
A pigeon’s eye color is not fixed from birth but undergoes a distinct developmental change as the bird matures. All newly hatched pigeons begin with dark, nearly black eyes, often called “bull-eyed dark.” Iris pigmentation gradually begins to brighten between two and three months of age.
Juvenile birds often display a dull brown or a light bluish-gray iris before the full adult hue is established. The final, stable eye color is typically developed by the time the pigeon is five or six months old.
Beyond the wild-type orange color, specific domesticated pigeon breeds exhibit a wider variety of iris colors due to selective breeding. These variations include the “pearl” eye, which is a grayish-white, and the “bull” eye, which remains dark brown or black in adulthood. The pearl eye is a genetically recessive trait that originated during domestication.
The Anatomy Behind Pigeon Eye Color
The coloration of a pigeon’s iris is determined by the presence and concentration of specialized pigments within the anterior layer of the iris, known as the stroma. Pigeons possess two types of non-melanin pigments that contribute to the brighter colors: pteridines and guanidines.
Pteridines are responsible for the yellow-orange hue, while guanidines are whitish, opaque pigments. The wild-type orange or “gravel” eye contains both pteridine and guanidine pigments in the stroma.
The pearl eye results from a genetic mutation causing a lack of yellow-orange pteridine pigment, leaving only the whitish guanidine and underlying vascular redness visible. In contrast, the bull eye results from the complete absence of stromal pigment cells, allowing the underlying dark melanin layer of the eye to show through.