White doves are released at weddings, funerals, and other big events to create meaningful and poignant moments of symbolism. When these birds are freed, they appear to fly off, but they almost always return to their home. If you’ve ever wondered how they manage this, the following guide provides a brief overview.

The Truth About White Doves

Almost all bird releases actually use homing pigeons that have been bred to be a pure white color. This is done for ethical reasons. Since true ring-neck white doves are bred domestically for their desirable traits, they cannot survive long in the wild. They will struggle to obtain food while being easy targets for predators. 

However, homing or rock pigeons are extremely sturdy birds. They’re in the same family as doves, so they closely resemble each other, as well. On the off chance that one does not come back after a release, they have a much higher chance of survival.

The Homing Ability

Another reason pigeons are often used in these ceremonial releases is because they have a special ability that doves do not. Homing pigeons can find their way back to a residence if it's within a 1,100-mile radius of the release spot.

While there are still some unknowns surrounding how they do this, the scientific community has several theories. Some suspect the birds have compass and map mechanisms that help them use the sun to determine which way to fly while comparing the land they're soaring over to where they want to go to. While the method behind the map function is uncertain, it’s thought that pigeons can recognize landmarks around their home and use them to navigate.

Other ideas include magnetoreception or using the earth's gravitational pull for guidance. It is believed they're able to do this due to iron particles in their beaks that enable them to sense different magnetic variations to know where they are. Pigeons may also use natural infrasound navigation. This theory suspects that the birds use the low-frequency sounds emitted by all living things. While these aren’t audible to humans, pigeons can use them to identify natural landmarks and general areas to help navigate home.

If you are interested in having a white dove release at your event, turn to A Sign of Peace White Dove Releases in Erlanger, KY. For over 20 years, they’ve performed beautiful, well-organized dove releases at weddings, funerals, graduations, and other large gatherings. Their birds are well-kept and loved, and you can customize the number used to suit the situation. Learn more about this company online, and call (859) 727-3254 to speak with a friendly team member to reserve doves.