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Heritage: Brought to Austria and Southern
Germany in 1850 from upper Italy.
OVERALL APPEARANCE: The Maltese pigeon is a
radical departure from the common type of pigeon in that
it stands high on straight legs, has a very long slender
neck and a short tucked up body (cubiform). The bird
should be very tall, with a short hard compact body and
not so heavy as to mar the elegance or its figure nor
its grace. It should carry its head high and when
driving throw its head backward almost to its tail. An
ideal specimen should stand fifteen or more inches in
height.
Head
(5 pts.):
Long, carried high, very little arch, narrow forehead.
Eye (5 pts.): Somewhat deep set, whites to have
bull eyes, the other colors to have orange eyes. Whites
to have red eye ceres; blacks and blues damson cere;
reds, yellows, duns, and silvers flesh colored cere.
Beak (5 pts.): Stout and of medium length, with
the upper beak slightly bent. In blacks and blues the
beak should be black. In all other colors the beak
should be flesh colored, the wattle should be smooth and
powder white.
Neck (20 pts.): Very long and carried erect, as
nearly the same thickness as possible until approaching
the shoulder.
Breast (10pts.):
Relatively wide in proportion to overall appearance and
carried high showing good depth of keel. Belly to be
short and round, rump to be well developed and
feathered, the body should appear cubed not long and
cylindrical.
Back
(10 pts.): Short and moderately broad,
horizontal and with slight elevation at rump.
Wings
(10 pts.): Very short flights, lying close,
carried well up, wing butts prominent and projecting
slightly outward at breast. Flights to meet at center of
tail with slight crossing permitted
Legs
(20 pts.): Thighs to be powerful and long and
should show as much as possible, very closely feathered. Legs below the hock to
be straight, very long, free of feathers, joints must
not be bent, toes to be long and set well apart.
Plumage (5 pts.): Short and closely fitting.
Color: Black, white, red, yellow, blue, silver, dun, mottles,
grizzles, and A.O.C. (to include reduced, opal, almonds recognized
according to taste and preference of breeder) all colors must be clear
and intense.
Assessment:
In order of importance. General impression, type and
size, length of neck, length of leg, head and color.
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Head |
5 pts |
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Eye |
5 pts |
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Beak |
5 pts |
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Neck |
20 pts |
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Breast |
10 pts |
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Back |
10 pts |
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Wings |
10 pts |
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Tail |
10 pts |
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Legs |
20 pts |
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Plumage |
5 pts |
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MAJOR FAULTS:
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Long, too
heavy or coarse body, stout, thick, short crouching neck, short,
thick head, flat forehead, pinched beak, long, narrow, split wry or
wedged shaped tail, tail carried low, wings carried below tail or
extending over end of tail, short, close set or crooked legs, narrow
or drooping breast.
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