This is the spectacular moment thousands of homing pigeons set off on a race in the Philippines.

The annual PHA MacArthur National Race, a prestigious pigeon association in the country, organised the event in MacArthur, Leyte province on March 23.

Footage captured by Albert Farin shows the event officials opening the cage of a truck aboard 1,300 pigeons participating in the 600 km super-marathon.

Each participating pigeon has a ring on its talon with a code sticker to determine the winner. The avian then have to fly back to their fancier's home faster than the other birds.

Fanciers will text the code once their pigeons reach their home to inform the organisation of the time it takes the bird to come back.

Pigeon racing originated in Belgium in 1818. It was the first long-distance race of 160 km.