Detailed profile of this breed: origin, year of creation, recognised varieties and official approvals.
Breed summary
The Indian Fantail is a small to medium fancy pigeon known for its extremely large, rounded fan-shaped tail. The body is compact and upright; the head is medium with a short beak; eyes bright. It occurs in a wide range of colors and patterns. It is a calm, people-friendly bird suitable for show or everyday keeping. Quantitative notes: body length about 22-28 cm; weight 250-350 g; tail fan width about 30-40 cm when displayed; tail feathers typically 20-30; clutch size 2 eggs; incubation 17-19 days; squabs fledge around 18-28 days; typical lifespan in captivity 6-12 years.
Detailed origin
Origin: The Indian Fantail developed in India and neighboring regions among early fancy pigeons. Documented in European and American breeding circles from the 19th century onwards after importation. It is considered one of the oldest fantail types and influenced by both local Indian lines and imported stock. First show records date to the 1860s and 1870s in Europe.
Detailed description
Morphology: compact body with a very short neck, and a broad, arching tail that forms a near semicircle when displayed. The head is medium; beak short and clean; eyes bright; plumage smooth and glossy. Colors range from white and black to blue, checks and many self-colors. Legs are clean or lightly feathered depending on line. Temperament is very calm, easy to handle. Breeding notes: pairing yields typically two eggs per clutch; incubation 17-19 days; fledging around 18-28 days. The breed is generally kept in aviaries or cages, and shows emphasize tail symmetry, head quality and upright carriage.
Recognised varieties for this breed
- Indian Fantail self white
- Indian Fantail black
- Indian Fantail dun
- Indian Fantail red
- Indian Fantail yellow
- Indian Fantail brown
- Indian Fantail khaki
- Indian Fantail ash-red self
- Indian Fantail ash-yellow self
- Indian Fantail intense and dilute lavender
- Indian Fantail kite
- Indian Fantail golden dun
- Indian Fantail agate in red and yellow
- Indian Fantail deroy
- Indian Fantail bronze
- Indian Fantail harlequin
- Indian Fantail qualmond
- Indian Fantail tiger and spangled in black
- Indian Fantail blue
- Indian Fantail silver
- Indian Fantail spread
- Indian Fantail dark checked
- Indian Fantail barless in blue
- Indian Fantail ash-red
- Indian Fantail ash-yellow
- Indian Fantail checked
- Indian Fantail barred
- Indian Fantail grizzle spread
- Indian Fantail andalusian blue grizzle
- Indian Fantail grizzle kite
- Indian Fantail homozygous grizzle in blue
- Indian Fantail indigo spread
- Indian Fantail andalusian
- Indian Fantail homozygous andalusian in blue
- Indian Fantail dominant opal spread
- Indian Fantail silver grizzle
- Indian Fantail red grizzle
- Indian Fantail yellow grizzle
- Indian Fantail brown grizzle
- Indian Fantail khaki grizzle
- Indian Fantail indigo
- Indian Fantail powdered