The standard Domestic Show Flight is based on the Plain - Head solid colored "ideal" of this breed. The "ideal" being the perfect bird. The scoring of this breed has been grouped into three (3) sections, namely: (1) OUTLINE - 25 pts: (2) FEATHER - 25 pts. (3) FEATURES - 50 pts. for a total of 100 pts. Additional points in their own class: CAP (CREST) -10 pts.; MOTTLE MARKED - 25 pts.

The following description is used as a base to judge for the "ideal", perfect pigeon. The term "must" is used when referring to the ideal bird. Specific variations of the ideal are noted.

Section (One) Outline: The outline of the bird covers the outer surface and does not include the head properties nor the feathers of the bird, and is scored according to the following:

Height (5 pts.): The height of the bird standing erect must be eight inches from the base of the foot to the top of the head.

Length (5 pts.): The length of the bird must be eight and one half inches measured horizontally from the furthest point of the breast to the tip of the tail.

Breast (5 pts.): The breast must be semicircular and measure four and one half inches from the outer wings. It must be high and prominent.

Neck (5 pts.): The neck must be two and one quarter inches in diameter at the middle. From the lower mandible the line of the throat must incline in a graceful arc; the furthest point of inclination to end in an imaginary vertical line with a point at the equal distance between the pupil of the eye, and the break of the frontal of the nostrils. The base feathers of the neck, at the front covering the breast and at the sides covering the wing arms, must be uniform. The base feathers at the back of the neck must be as low down on the back as possible. The upper back portion of the neck must be bully.

Legs (5 pts.): The legs must be straight, stout, two and one quarter inches apart, and in a vertical line with the eye. The tarsus or leg stems must be one inch from the ball of the foot to the bend at the knee or hock, covered three quarters of the way down on the tarsus with feathers. The nails must be bone colored, the toes straight and stout, and the color of the tarsus and feet the same color as the eye cere and nostrils.

In General: The keel must end off as low as possible behind the legs, the tail tips one half inch off the floor, the wings close to the body, the primary flight tips must set on the tail and end one half inch from the end of the tail. The general appearance must be ruddy, cobby, uppity, and vigorous.

Judges Note: After the total of the points for the above has been scored, the judge may make further deductions from this total for the general appearance of the bird as he sees fit, so far as outline is concemed.

Section (Two) Feathers: This pertains to the feather of the bird exclusively. It has no bearing on outline or the features, later to be explained.

(A) Color (20 pts.): The color of the feathers of all parts of the bird (subject to the class they represent) excluding the primary flight tips and the primary coverts (which are to be white) must be of a clear and deep uniform color over all the body except on the neck and breast where there may be found an iridescent hue of the color present. The iredescence denotes good health and must be allowed. However, at the frontal end top of the head, at the three beards, both sides of the face, the breast, sides of the wings, the keel, the belly, the vent, the coverts under the tail, the rump, the sides of the rump, the back, the thighs, the legs, and numbers 7 to 10 of the upper medium coverts must have no off-shading of the original color. The tail must have twelve tips ( 12 upper and 12 lower coverts).

(B) Primary Flight Tips (5 pts.): The 20 primary flight tips, (10 on each wing) must be white. One quarter point is allowed for each white tip.

In General: The color must be clear, uniform, deep, and brilliant, the general feathering must be tight and clean.

Judges Note: Allowance to color: Any bird showing a tinge of a third color of his base color shall be penalized ten points and additional points as the judge sees fit. This also includes the bar variety. Also, after the total of the points the judge may make further deductions from this total as he sees fit. If any part-colored primary tips occur from numbers 1 to 4 in succession after the solid colored tips on each wing one quarter point will be deducted for each parti-colored tip. If the socks, vent, belly, keel, legs, or epaulets ( numbers 7 to 10) of the upper medium coverts show any white in solid colored classes deductions not to exceed two points for either may be made except when any discoloration of any feather of the tail or secondary flight tip is more than half the length of the quill of the feather. The judge will deduct from 10 to 20 points allotted for color as he sees fit. When any discoloration of any feather of the tail or secondary flight tip is less than half the length of the quill of that feather the judge will deduct from 1 to 9 points allotted for color, as he sees fit. (Parti-color means basic color of the bird plus white).

Section (Three) Features (50 pts.): This pertains to the head properties only and has no bearing with outline and feather.

(A) Crown (20 pts.): The crown is referred to as the top line of the head starting at the feather of the nostrils (known as the break) continuing in a high prominent arc, widening and declining gracefully into the upper back of the neck. Frontal or forehead; the top and side view of the frontal must show the frontal over-lapping the feather line of the nostrils. The front view must show the frontal as broad and deep as that of a Long-faced Tumbler. In general, it must be round and prominent. The front face of the bird must be pinched at the sides, refined and inset, and have a smile-like appearance at the mouth.

(B) Beak (15 pts.): The beak must be set in deep at the nostrils, blood red in color from the mouth to midway on the upper and lower mandibles to the points
of both mandibles and the beak must be a clear ivory color. The line of the beak
separating the two mandibles must be straight, imaginarily tangent to the base of the eye, and parallel to the floor. The beak must be one inch long from the mouth to the point of the beak, three-sixteenths of an inch thick and three-sixteenths of an inch wide at the nostrils, tapering gracefully to a point toward the end of the beak. The upper mandible may be allowed a small, hardly noticeable roll at the tip in order to over-lap the lower mandible at the point of the beak. The nostrils must be as refined as possible.

(C) Eye (10 pts.): The eye must be circular, set in the center of the general
head and divided into two portions. Noticeable, the large white portion known as the Iris, and the black center, known as the pupil The eye must be pearly white, and free from other colored matter. It must be one quarter inch in diameter. The pupil or focus must be in the center of the eye, and round and small as possible, noted black in color, having no breaks at the outer line, nor any blemishes on the black portion whatever. The eye must appear shiny and alert.

(D) Eye Cere (5 pts.): The eye cere is the muscular and blood colored portion of the flesh surrounding the eye. Free from feather, this cere is the eyelid of the bird. When open, only this muscular portion of the lid is noticeable and must be the same blood red color as the feet, nostrils, and mouth of the beak.

In General: The features must be pleasant, prominent, bright in color, alert, and aristocratic in appearance.

Judges Note: After the total points for the above has been scored, the judge may make further deductions from this total as he sees fit, so far as features are concerned.

(A) Cap (Crest) Classes (10 additional pts.):
Side View: From the ear starting as a rosette or spade, the reversed feathers or tufts must be full and rise in a diagonal arc, to a point in a level line with the top of the head.
Top View: Starting one quarter inch away from the head at the ears, the line of the tufts must gracefully increase in distance from the head, until it reaches a point one and one half inches from the center top of the head. The declining feathers at the back of the head must not interfere with the long rising tufts at the cap (crest). A clear opposition must be noted at this point.

(B) Mottled Marked Classes (25 additional pts.): The markings are to be as follows: The thirteen secondary flights, twelve major coverts, one to six of the upper medium coverts, seven to ten of the upper medium coverts known as the epaulets, the tail, vent, rump, belly, thighs, and legs must be of a solid-color of the color present. The lesser coverts of the wings, back, neck, head, breast, flap, and forward portion of the keel, spot for spot (see sketch).

Judges Note: The judge may make further deductions after the total of points for either cap (crest) or mottle marked has been scored. Any bird having at least one white feather on any part of the body other than socks, keel, vent, belly, epaulets, primary flight tips, or primary coverts must be judged in the Mottle or the Stock Class (exhibitor's choice).

Mis-Marked, Stock and AOC Classes: The mis-marked, stock, or AOC class consists of pieds. beards, blaze faced, blue teager, tortoise-shells, blue checkers, three distinct colored birds, sugar-tails, silver teagets, strawberrys, short-tipped and over-tipped solid birds, badly colored finished tip birds and any other color not listed below under official show colors.

Official Show Colors:

Barred Colors:

• Blue - A grayish, blue body, with two black bars on the wings, and one black bar on the tail.
• Silver - A creamy tan body, with two dun bars on the wings and dun bar on the tail.

Solid Colors:

• Black - Must be iridescent and as brilliant as black satin.
• Dun - Clear and unblemished, and like that of a shell of chestnut
• Brown - A warm pure cocoa brown, clear and unblemished. (Note that brown is judged with black and dun).
• Red - Blood red, clear, and unblemished.
• Yellow Yellow - gold to orange, clear, and unblemished. (Note: In the case of extremely light marked or heavy marked teagers, extremely poor colored finished tip solid birds, and sugar tail birds having discoloration more than half the length of the quill, the exhibitor will be afforded the choice of entering these birds in the show class they represent or in the stock, mismark, or A.O.C. class).

Allowances on Beak: Any bird having a touch line of discoloration on upper and lower mandible and still shows a good bloody red color in the clear portion of the beak shall be allowed; any bird that has a little tarnish in the nostril but has a clear red upper and lower mandible shall be allowed; the judge shall deduct points on these birds as he sees fit. He can also deduct points on his final decision for general appearance. However, all points cannot be deducted from these birds.