Across the geographical expanse of the ECO member states, pigeons have held a special place since ancient times. From Safavid Iran and earlier periods to the cities of Central Asia, dovecotes or pigeon towers were not merely shelters for birds, but an integral part of agricultural systems and urban life.
Dovecotes or pigeon towers are structures built with a diameter of approximately seven to fifteen meters to make pigeons feel secure; inside them, hundreds of nesting niches of uniform shape and size were created. Most dovecotes were cylindrical towers, and evidence of such structures in Iran dates back about 1,200 years.
Dovecotes were intelligent, environmentally adapted structures constructed with local materials. As pigeons symbolize peace, loyalty, pride, and purity in the cultures of this region, the construction of dovecotes, flight competitions, the keeping of specific breeds, and pigeon-related rituals are considered part of the intangible cultural heritage of these countries. With the industrialization of agriculture, many dovecotes were abandoned; however, in recent years, growing attention to cultural tourism, the revival of vernacular architecture, and a tendency toward sustainable agriculture have brought renewed interest in this tradition.
In Iran, particularly in rural and traditional areas, dovecotes were sometimes built in the form of traditional architecture with domes and decorative elements, serving not only as shelters for pigeons but also as aesthetically significant structures.
In other ECO member countries, well-known traditional dovecote architecture has not been documented to the same extent as in Iran and parts of Turkey. Generally, pigeons were kept in simpler ways in villages, without distinctive historical structures. Nevertheless, pigeon keeping and small bird structures (simple dovecotes or birdhouses) can still be observed in some rural and agricultural areas of these countries, although they are not mentioned in prominent historical sources as extensively as the Iranian and Turkish examples.
The most famous and traditional dovecotes are located in central and northern regions of Iran, such as Kashan, Yazd, and Isfahan. The construction of dovecotes in Iran flourished between the 16th and 18th centuries (during the Safavid period), although earlier examples may have existed. At that time, agriculture was highly developed, and there was a strong demand for natural fertilizer. Pigeon droppings, rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, were extremely valuable as natural fertilizer and were widely used to enrich gardens and farmlands.
In Turkey, traditional dovecotes also existed and still exist in some regions, especially in rural areas, though in smaller numbers than in Iran. In the Cappadocia region, many dovecotes (güvercinlik) were carved into natural rock formations and cliffs.
In Pakistan, dovecotes for breeding pigeons are widespread, although their structures differ from those in Iran. Pigeon breeding is very common and deeply rooted in history. In almost all cities and villages, dovecotes can be seen on rooftops. They are used for breeding, pigeon flying, and flight competitions, and overall remain prevalent as a family tradition, forming an important part of the country’s cultural heritage.
Pigeon breeding in Afghanistan dates back several hundred to several thousand years. In ancient times, pigeons were used for message delivery, and during the Islamic period they were kept for recreation, competitions, and selective breeding. The architecture of dovecotes in Afghanistan and Pakistan is generally simple and rural in character. This tradition remains widespread in Afghanistan today.
The history of pigeon breeding in Azerbaijan dates back several centuries and even earlier, to antiquity and the Middle Ages. During the Safavid period, pigeon breeding was popular among both the aristocracy and the general public. During the Soviet era, despite restrictions, pigeon flying continued in local and informal forms. After independence, pigeon breeding flourished once again. Today, Azerbaijan is one of the world’s most important centers for flying pigeons and is internationally renowned for its distinctive flying breeds, although its dovecotes do not resemble those of Iran and Turkey.
In Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, the history of dovecotes and pigeon breeding in Central Asia spans several hundred to several thousand years and is deeply intertwined with Iranian and Turkic cultures, the Silk Road, and the region’s historic cities. In Tajikistan, this tradition is rooted in Iranian-Sogdian and Samanid culture, where pigeons were used for communication, recreation, and display flying.
In Turkmenistan, dovecotes and pigeon breeding are rooted in both nomadic and urban Turkmen culture, and alongside the breeding of Akhal-Teke horses, attention was also given to purebred birds.
In Kyrgyzstan, compared to other countries in the region, the construction of dovecotes and pigeon breeding has a relatively shorter history and was largely influenced by Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Nevertheless, despite certain limitations, pigeon flying became more common during the Soviet period.
In Uzbekistan, the construction of dovecotes and pigeon breeding has a history of more than 1,000 years, with key Silk Road cities playing a major role in this tradition. Dovecotes and pigeon breeding remain active in both Tajikistan and Uzbekistan today.
Overall, pigeon keeping and breeding are common across Central Asian countries; however, traditional, architecturally elaborate dovecotes have not been documented in numbers comparable to those in Iran and parts of Turkey. Most dovecotes in these countries are simple and functional in structure.
In conclusion, Iran is the most renowned among ECO member countries for traditional dovecotes, both in terms of architectural significance and sheer number.