Fancy feathers rule at pigeon fans’ version of the Westminster dog show

Spectators and exhibitors make their way down rows of cages housing nearly 8,000 pigeons at the competition. (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

Feb. 6, 2015 2:45 AM PT

The common street pigeon is packed with recessive traits that produce more than 500 different breeds within the same species. The Grand National pigeon show is where these birds, and their owners, compete.

Lobenstein’s lace fantail with ostrich like plumes for tail feathers. (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

Jacobin pigeons with their feathered hoods are among the pigeons in this community loft. (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

Drew Lobenstein handles an extreme dilute mutation fantail near the sorting cages on his Reseda property. (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

Lobenstein checks eggs two to five days after they’re laid to see if they are fertile. (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

Lobenstein points out the extraordinary details of the frills of a frillback. (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

Lobenstein’s copper blackwing archangel. (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

Lobenstein’s 15-year-old racing homer and a detail of the aging bird’s wattle. (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

Lobenstein’s yellow Jacobin with proper bald head markings. (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

Lobenstein’s extreme dilute (or lemon) Jacobin, generation 7, from the original South African mutated racing homer. (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)