Discover the Highest Price Ever Paid for a Racing Pigeon

Throughout history, racing pigeons have been domesticated by humans, sometimes in religious rituals, sometimes as messengers. Racing became popular during medieval Europe when the sport became a source of entertainment. With the new demand for racing pigeons, these birds became a hot commodity.

Breeders focused on developing their own specialized breeds. The 19^th century further organized the sport and today, racing pigeons remain ever popular. So much that people are paying shockingly exorbitant amounts just to take a prized one home. Discover the highest price ever paid for a racing pigeon!

Why Are Racing Pigeons So Expensive?

To be fair, not all racing pigeons are exorbitantly expensive. While some people shell out tens of thousands of dollars for these birds, others only pay a couple hundred dollars. The high prices of these birds are the result of several factors. For example, the way these birds perform makes them valuable. This is especially true if they’re bred from successful bloodlines. These desirable genetic traits come with a higher price tag.

The breeding potential of this type of bird is also what may factor into its price. Pigeon breeders are looking for the best of the best and are willing to shell out large amounts of cash to breed pigeons with excellent racing abilities. Breeders don’t take their roles lightly. They spend a lot of time and put a lot of care into raising and training their racing pigeons.

Breeders focus on proper nutrition and provide them with the healthcare they need, which only adds to how these racing pigeons are valued. Not all racing pigeons look the same and those with unique colors or distinctive physical features may be more expensive because of how rare they are. The market for racing pigeons is international, which only adds to the value of these pigeons. The higher the demand, the higher the prices.

The Most Expensive Racing Pigeon Ever Sold

The most expensive racing pigeon ever sold was auctioned online in November 2020. Belgian pigeon fancier, Gaston Van de Wouwer, bred the racing pigeon named New Kim. She was two years old at the time of the sale. She had already won a couple of different high-level competitions and had developed a reputation for her remarkable skills. A Chinese bidder purchased New Kim for an unbelievable $1.9 million USD. It was ultimately New Kim’s racing abilities paired with her breeding potential that resulted in such a high price.