Strasser Pigeon Colouring

Meet the Strasser, a domestic fancy pigeon whose country or region of origin is Moravia in the Czech lands, with the larger modern Strasser form later refined and standardized in Germany. Its hallmark is a large, broad, fairly short body with a deep projecting breast, low stance and a sharp pattern: coloured head, wings and tail against a white neck and body. The large German show form commonly falls around 700–900 grams, with harmony and a compact outline more important than making the bird as heavy as possible. This page turns those real breed features into large, friendly shapes that young colourists can recognize without making the bird look like a cartoon chicken. The Strasser family was developed from Moravian farm pigeons during the nineteenth century, but no dependable sole breeder or exact creation year is recorded. The German specialist club dates from 1907, which is a club date rather than the breed’s birth year. Like every domestic pigeon breed, it belongs to the species Columba livia and ultimately descends from the wild rock pigeon. It is best understood as a carefully selected loft bird, not as a separate wild species. A suitable home is A roomy domestic loft with sturdy perches, broad nest bowls and a dry, secure exercise pen. Offer balanced food, grit and minerals, and use roomy nest bowls so the broad breast and short body can settle comfortably over eggs. Smooth, clean footing and safe perch spacing help prevent sore toes and damaged feathers. Offer a balanced pigeon grain or pellet ration, suitable grit and minerals, fresh water every day, and a shallow bath. A well-kept domestic pigeon commonly lives about 8 to 15 years, and some live longer, but lifespan depends on genetics, clean housing, nutrition, veterinary attention and protection from predators. Children should admire and colour pigeons while an adult handles real birds gently. Colouring guide: Keep the neck, breast, belly and underside white. Choose black, blue, red, yellow or silver for the outlined head, both wing shields and tail. Make each colour boundary crisp, especially the collar line at the base of the head. A blue bird can have neat dark bars; a black bird can be coloured with deep even pencil while still preserving a small feather highlight. Add an orange-red iris, a beak that suits the plumage, and rosy clean feet. Colour the arched loft door brown, the wall cream, the vine green and the grapes purple or pale green. Use light grey on the stones. Check that the tail matches the head and wings before finishing—the repeated colour is what makes the Strasser pattern so satisfying. Before you finish, compare the two feet, the wing edges and the tail so no small section is missed. The simple background supports the story of the breed's origin, while the pigeon remains the star of the page. There is no single “correct” picture: a careful realistic palette teaches breed features, and an imaginative rainbow palette can be just as joyful.

◫ A4 size✎ Bold outlines♡ Ages 3–8

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Make it an activity

Choose a favourite colour palette
Add a simple background
Display the finished artwork

Grown-up note: Please supervise printing and choose age-appropriate art materials.