Top 7 Most Expensive Pigeons In The World

Pigeons are known to be ordinary city birds that can be found all over the world. However, elite racing champions and rare breeds can fetch hundreds of thousands and even millions of dollars.

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Belgian racing pigeons are well known to be the pinnacle of racing pigeons, prized for their speed, endurance, and breeding potential.  A champion bird can sire or produce offspring that dominate future races, making them living investments. Here, we would like to share with you the top 7 most expensive pigeons in the world.

7. New General - $450,000

New General was acquired by Dr. Wang, the organizer of the Lang Fang pigeon exhibition, in partnership with several Belgian entrepreneurs. The pigeon sold for a whopping €404,000($450,000), making it one of the top-selling pigeons in history.

This pigeon was bred and raced by the renowned father-son duo Kurt & Raf Platteeuw of Rumbeke, Belgium. The bird cemented its legacy as one of the most elite racing pigeons in modern history.

6. Prince Porsche - $480,000

He raced only as a yearling but manages to secure five top‑hundred finishes. He is a full brother to the renowned Porsche 911 and this pigeon was bred from the pairing of ‘Wacko Freddy’ and ‘Lieve'.

The Prince Porsche was sold at auction for €435,000 ($480,000). His consistent performance in large national competitions cemented his reputation as a sprint specialist.

5. Victory Best Kittel - $600,000

Victory Best Kittel is a Belgian racing pigeon that sold for around €510,000 ($600,000). It is a descendant of Best Kittel, the world’s No. 1 sprint breeder, and Ornat, a top performer in the South African Million Dollar Race.

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During the Victoria Falls World Challenge Pigeon Race in 2021, this pigeon won the Super Ace title, one of the most prestigious awards in One Loft Racing. By 2024–2025, Victory Best Kittel had already become the grandfather of multiple 1st place winners.

4. Golden New Kim - $670,000

Golden New Kim, the offspring of two legendary champions, Golden Prince and New Kim was sold for an extraordinary €600,000 ($670,000+). Golden Kim has sired multiple national champions and stands as the grandfather of four first‑place winners.

It is currently ranked as the fourth most expensive pigeon ever auctioned.

3. Maria - $800,000

Maria, a Belgian racing pigeon was sold for an extraordinary €700,000 ($800,000+)to the Great Wall Loft. She was bred by the legendary Belgian loft Hok Van de Wouwer. Maria was highly coveted because she won the 1st National Châteauroux race in 2018 and was crowned the 4th KBDB National Ace Pigeon.

At the time of her sale, she was the second-highest-priced pigeon in that specific total loft auction, right behind her famous loftmate, "New Kim".

2. Armando - $1.4 million

Known as the “Lewis Hamilton of pigeons,” Armando’s unmatched long-distance racing record and breeding potential made him one of the most valuable birds in history. Armando became a global sensation in 2019 when he was sold for a record-breaking €1.25 million ($1.4M) at auction.

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The pigeon was bred by Joël Verschoot in Ingelmunster, Belgium, a region considered the heartland of pigeon racing. At 5 years old, Armando was nearing the end of his racing career, but his value as a breeder was immense. His offspring were also auctioned and spread across Europe and Asia.

1. New Kim – $1.9 million

In 2020, a young Belgian racing pigeon named New Kim stunned the world when she was sold at auction for an astonishing €1.6 million ($1.9 million), making her the most expensive pigeon ever recorded. 

At just two years old, New Kim was already a decorated champion, crowned Belgium’s Best Young Bird in 2018, a title that cemented her reputation in the highly competitive world of pigeon racing. Unlike many high-priced pigeons that are males, New Kim was a hen. This made her sale even more remarkable, as hens are typically less sought after.

Source:

• BBC

• abcNEWS

• PIPA

Also read: Top 7 Most Expensive Parrots In The World