Tumbler pigeons are varieties of domesticated pigeons

Domestic Pigeon

The Domestic Pigeon was derived from the Rock Pigeon. The Rock Pigeon is the world's oldest domesticated bird. Mesopotamian cuneiform tablets mention the domestication of pigeons more than 5,000 years ago, as do Egyptian hieroglyphics.Research suggests that domestication of pigeons was as early as...

 descendant from the Rock Dove that have been selected

Selective breeding

Selective breeding is the process of breeding plants and animals for particular genetic traits. Typically, strains that are selectively bred are domesticated, and the breeding is sometimes done by a professional breeder. Bred animals are known as breeds, while bred plants are known as varieties,...

 for their ability to tumble or roll over backwards in flight.

This ability has been known in domesticated breed

Breed

A breed is a group of domestic animals or plants with a homogeneous appearance, behavior, and other characteristics that distinguish it from other animals or plants of the same species. Despite the centrality of the idea of "breeds" to animal husbandry, there is no scientifically accepted...

s of pigeons for centuries. In Wendell Levi's book The Pigeon, reference is made to pigeons with this tumbling ability existing in India before the year 1590. Charles Darwin, in his book The Origin of Species, makes reference to the Short Faced Tumbler which was a popular breed during his lifetime, and still can be found exhibited at pigeon shows today.

There are many different breeds that have descended from the original tumbler stocks. Some of the more popular breeds today include:

• Armenian Tumbler
  Armenian Tumbler
  The Armenian Tumbler is a breed of tumblers that originated in Armenia, where they are bred for their color and flight. As the name suggests the Armenian Tumbler is a part of the Tumbler family...
  
  
• Australian Performing Tumbler
  Australian Performing Tumbler
  -Origin:-Description:...
  
  
• Berlin Short Faced Tumbler
  Berlin Short Faced Tumbler
  The Berlin Short Faced Tumbler is a breed of fancy pigeon developed over many years of selective breeding. Berlin Short Faced Tumblers, along with other varieties of domesticated pigeons, are all descendants from the Rock Pigeon .-Origin:...
  
  
• English Long Face Tumbler
  English Long Face Tumbler
  The English Long Face Tumbler is a breed of fancy pigeon developed over many years of selective breeding. English long face tumblers, along with other varieties of domesticated pigeons, are all descendants from the Rock Pigeon ....
  
  
• English Short Faced Tumbler
  English Short Faced Tumbler
  The English Short Faced Tumbler is a breed of fancy pigeon developed over many years of selective breeding. English Short Faced Tumblers along with other varieties of domesticated pigeons are all descendants from the Rock Pigeon . The Short Faced Tumbler is one of the oldest breeds referred to in...
  
  
• Iranian Highflying Tumbler
  Iranian Highflying Tumbler
  The Iranian High flyer pigeon is a breed of domestic pigeon bred in Iran* for endurance flying competitions. The tumbling is nothing like a Birmingham Roller, just a flip or couples, occasionally hovering before it does the flip....
  
  
• Komorner Tumbler
  Komorner Tumbler
  The Komorner Tumbler is a breed of fancy pigeon developed over many years of selective breeding...
  
  
• West of England Tumbler
  West of England Tumbler
  The West of England Tumbler is a breed of fancy pigeon developed over many years of selective breeding. West of England Tumblers, along with other varieties of domesticated pigeons, are all descendants from the Rock Pigeon ....