If you only see pigeons as two-winged toxin factories, gliding germ generators with a mastery of in-flight infection, then the fact that a Chinese buyer has just spent more than US$1.4 million to secure the services of one may cause you some degree of bafflement. That, however, is the case.

More specifically, Armando, a Belgian racing pigeon of some renown, is the latest recruit to the all-star flock of some sadly anonymous mainland millionaire. In total, he spent US$1,408,518.78 on luring the clearly admirably aerodynamic Armando eastwards, which, as any fool will tell you, is more than triple the US$425,000 transfer fee secured by Nadine, the previously Highest-priced Pigeon of All Time.

Armando, though, is something very special. Bred in West Belgium and hailed as the tiny European country’s leading long-distance racer, he was reared by Joel Verschoot, apparently a legendary pigeon impresario. Given that Armando has been expertly schooled in winging it back home from wherever he’s released in record time, it could be that his oriental occupancy is, however, something of a brief one…