messenger pigeon
Letter-carrying bird
A messenger pigeon is a homing pigeon trained to carry messages.
The birds navigate long distances back to their home loft, where the message—typically a small note attached to the leg—can be retrieved.
Before telecommunications, messenger pigeons served military and commercial purposes: The besieged city received news only by messenger pigeon.
Common gray urban pigeon
- feathersBird's lightweight covering
- wingsLimbs for flight
- beakHorny avian mouthpart
- cooingSoft murmuring sounds
plumage · flock · roost · nest · perch · breeding · loft · squab
Send with speed
- letterWritten symbol or message
- noteShort written record
- capsuleEnclosed dose container
- leg bandLimb-encircling identification marker
scroll · news · intelligence · correspondence · cipher · bulletin · notification · announcement
Innate ability to return
- navigationDetermining position and course
- orientationPosition relative to surroundings
- release pointWhere projectile departs hand
- bearingPosture or orientation
Elongated ground excavations
- reconnaissanceInformation-gathering before action
- frontlineCombat's forward position
- enemy linesAdversary's military positions
- medalMetal honor token
espionage · intelligence · resistance · D-Day · World War I · World War II
Ancient Iranian imperial dominion
- Genghis KhanMongol Empire's founder
- ReutersLondon-based wire service
- news serviceAgency distributing journalism
- stock exchangeSecurities trading marketplace
rock dove
Common gray urban pigeon
cooing · plumage · flock · roost · nest · perch · breeding · loft · squab · avian
dispatch
Send with speed
leg band · scroll · news · intelligence · correspondence · cipher · bulletin · notification · announcement · transmission
homing instinct
Innate ability to return
- navigationDetermining position and course
- orientationPosition relative to surroundings
- release pointWhere projectile departs hand
trenches
Elongated ground excavations
- reconnaissanceInformation-gathering before action
- frontlineCombat's forward position
- enemy linesAdversary's military positions
medal · espionage · intelligence · resistance · D-Day · World War I · World War II
Persian Empire
Ancient Iranian imperial dominion
- Genghis KhanMongol Empire's founder
- ReutersLondon-based wire service
- news serviceAgency distributing journalism
stock exchange · Victorian era · bygone · antiquated · heritage
- working animalsherding, gun dog, guarding, pulling, hunting dog
- pigeonsrock dove, homer, carrier, squabs, fantail
- messenger animalsraven
- animalscat, dog, bird, fish, cow
- communication devicesphone, cellphone, cell phone, mobile phone, landline
- war animalswar dog, war dogs, war horse, war horses, war elephant
messenger pigeonemail
Digital written communication
text message · telegraph · telephone · satellite communication · radio transmission
messenger pigeonhawk
Taloned predatory bird
falcon · peregrine falcon · predator · bird of prey · raptor
messenger, pigeon, message, messages, messengers, messaging, messaged, pigeons