As Helen mentioned, the above Belgian racing pigeon was won at auction last week for $1.9 million. The Chinese buyer intends to breed it with another Belgian racing pigeon. Racing pigeons compete over distances of 62 to 620 miles. Beyond having the birds become very familiar with their home roost area in their first few months, there is not any location training. Training is mainly distance work as the birds are taken and released farther and farther from their home.

One questionable motivation used for speedy return is restricting access to offspring or mates, allowing interaction only on the return to the roost. And there is a doping problem in pigeon racing!

Cher Ami and Major Whittlesey is based on true event that happened during World War I. Thanks Judith for the recommendation.

How Homing Pigeons Find Their Way Home current hypotheses are smell or hearing

Carrier pigeons have the looks but homing pigeons are the ones carrying information.