homing pigeon

American  

[hoh-ming pij-uhn] / ˈhoʊ mɪŋ ˌpɪdʒ ən /

noun

1. any pigeon used to carry messages and equipped by training and breeding to fly home, sometimes from great distances.

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homing pigeon British  

noun

1. Also called: homer.  any breed of pigeon developed for its homing instinct, used for carrying messages or for racing

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Etymology

Origin of homing pigeon

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

He said he’s lived on this street so long he wouldn’t know where else to go; he’d be like a homing pigeon, throw him in the sky and he’d wheel back.

From Los Angeles Times

At last, the bell rang and the students flew out of the door like a flock of homing pigeons in a movie Ms. Mac showed us.

From Literature

The species joins a small but growing list of animals—including elephants, prairie dogs, and homing pigeons—that make use of such “infrasounds.”

From Science Magazine

They are now taking up the challenge of pigeon racing, releasing their specially-trained homing pigeons, which fly off into the distance and later return home for glory.

From BBC

Local media reports that the feud was related to homing pigeons and an illegal vegetable garden.

From BBC