Nov/December 2025

14 – Purebred PIGEON Research on Genetics By Canadian Breeder Tom de Munnik Hello Pigeon friends! Its been a couple years since giving away all my birds and with time on my hands have gone over all my genetic notes in producing red and black white sides in different breeds over a six year period. The first article is my journey in trying to find out what genetics and modifiers are relative in producing white sides. I found it the hardest part as you can tell in the article, with so many different opinions. Its the second article that is probably the most informative comparing the red and blacks and how they are connected . The main differences are that the reds are recessive red on a ash red base, while the blacks are blue base. They both carry the same grizzle factor and both are non-spread. The third article is is visual pathway into the blacks that I struggled with until I realized that the spread factor is detrimental to both the recessive red and black white sides. Over all I am trying to show the different modifi- ers that are relative to each color. Please feel free to pass on these articles to anyone who may have an interest into breeding these difficult markings. However its not rocket science and with a bit of basic genetic understanding you can make a white side in any pigeon breed. Hopefully this mailing can help others who may have a interest in a new challenge in the pigeon hobby. Wishing all enjoyment in the pigeon hobby. DUTCH HIGH FLYER GENETIC COMPARISON BETWEEN RECESSIVE RED & BLACK WHITESIDES Author’s Note: In no way is the below meant to dis-respect others with a different view or opinion It’s a discussion in trying to stabilize the white side marking. RECESSIVE RED WHITE SIDE & SHIELD BLACK “WHITE SIDE” FACTORS MOTTLE FACTORS (Per Bill Greenslade). BELOW (per Tom de Munnik) Ash Red (Ba). Blue Series (B+) T- Check Pattern (CT) (May Be Saturated In Some) . Check Or Bar Pattern ( Ct) (C+) Grizzle (G) (Not Confirmed By Bill G.) Homo Grizzle (G) Or Print Non-Spread (s+) None Spread (S) Non-Dirty (V) (You Can See It In The Nest If There). Hetero Or Homo Dirty (V) Homo-Smoky (sy). None Or Hetero Smoky(sy) Homo Recessive Red (e). Hetero Recessive Red (e) Hetero Kite/Bronze (K) And Or Hetero Kite/Bronze Hetero Sooty (So) (Not Confirmed By Bill Greenslade) MODIFIERS THAT DARKEN OR INHIBIT DK. BLACK “SHIELD MOTTLE” GRIZZLE TO EXPRESS BELOW FACTORS BELOW DIRTY (V) BLUE SREIES (B+) T-CHECK (CT) (particularly saturated T check) . CHECK PATTERN (CT) SOOTY (SO) HOMO GRIZZLE (G) or PRINT SMOKY (sy) HETERO SPREAD (S) SPREAD (S) HOMO DIRTY(V) REC. RED (e), KITE (K). When SOOTY (so) or SMOKY (sy) present with other darkening factors HETERO RECESSIVE RED (e) such as listed above create a blend of HETERO KITE (K) variable color and pattern expression.