By Rebecca Graham
Amid the squawking chaos of the Poultry Pavilion at the Sydney Royal Easter Show—where roosters crow, ducks quack, and feathers fly—I met a man with one of the most unexpected jobs at the Show: pigeon judge.
These birds are bred for beauty, speed, and stamina—and the best of them? Worth more than your car. “The current record is $1.5 million euros,” the judge, Mr Chris Mamman tells me, as he gently lifts a gleaming, wide-eyed bird from its coop. “That was for a pigeon in Belgium. She had an unbeatable race record, and her bloodline was impeccable.”
Judging pigeons involves more than just admiring plumage. “We’re looking at eye clarity, wing structure, feather quality, muscle tone, and temperament,” he explains. “You want symmetry, strength, and a calm nature. The perfect pigeon is both powerful and poised.”
But not all pigeons are bred to race. Some are bred for showing, like the fine specimens here at the Royal, while others—brace yourself—are bred for the dinner table. “Yes,” he says with a smile, “pigeon is still considered a delicacy in many cultures.”
So next time you see a pigeon strutting on the pavement, remember it might have distant cousins worth a fortune, or even featured on a fine dining menu. And here at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, you can see the finest of the flock.
Mr Chris Mammen with a prized pigeon
