STANDARD

(As per Australian Fancy Pigeons book of standards)

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Australian Performing Tumbler

The Show Standard of Excellence

Introduction

                The Australian Performing Tumbler is a medium faced flying bird. As a dual show and flying breed, one expects to find a well conditioned bird in top feather. It should have a well developed head, free from exaggeration, a full broad and round chest, a well shaped body and a bright upright carriage. These should combine to present the APT as a well balanced flying pigeon.

Head....20 Points

                In profile the head should consist of an unbroken arc rising perpendicularly from, but not protruding over the wattle, continuing, like a quarter of a circle, uninterrupted to a good top skull directly over the eye, then proceeding in an even curve merging imperceptibly with the neck and displaying no flat spots or breaks. The frontal should be round, giving a slight bay window effect, not sharp or pointed (as with a racing homer) nor flat, and there should be fullness at the cheeks, giving the bird a soft, pleasant outlook but still being able to see forward comfortably. There should be no gullet or creasing below the beak. The cheeks are full in feather giving expression to the face.

Beak...5 Points

              To be of medium length and thickness, close fitting and be almost equal in substance. A line along the joint of the mandibles, if continued, should pass just in line with the bottom of the eye. The beak colour should conform to the colour of the bird; black in blacks, flesh in whites, reds, yellows etc.

Eyes...5 Points

               Pearl in all colours, centrally placed with the pupil black and small. Miscoloured eyes (bull, yellow, etc), broken or tear drop pupils are a disqualification.

Eye Cere…2 Points

These should be small, neat and finely laced, closely feathered around and coloured according to the colour of the bird; black in blacks, flesh in whites, reds, yellows etc.

Wattle….2 Points

To be white, small, neat, close fitting and smooth in texture. Should be an integral part of the beak, not sitting as it were on the top of the beak.

Neck...6 Points

              Broad at the base, tapering gradually to the throat, of medium length complimenting the body, having a full bully appearance.

Body...10 Points

              Short, stout, cobby and wedge shaped, tapering to the tail. Also required a prominent broad chest and a strong rump.

Wings, Flights & Tail...10 Points

              The wings should be carried close to the body; wing butts tucked in. the flights should be strong, close fitting, medium length and broad. They should be carried on top of the tail reaching to within 12-14mm (1/2”) of the end of the tail. The major secondary coverts of the wing should cover well over the rump. Top line should be smooth without “sails” or “sideboards”. The tail should have twelve strong, close fitting feathers, which should overlap and taper so as to give the appearance of one to one and a half feathers. The tail must be carried clear of the ground.

Legs & Feet...5 Points

              The legs should be of medium length and strong. They should be well set to balance the bird. They should be free from feathers below the hocks and red in colour. The feet should be reasonably small, suiting the bird and also free from feathers. The toe-nails should be the same colour as the beak.

Carriage….15 Points

Upright, proud and alert. The eye should be over the ball of the foot.

Feather….10 Points

Should be close fitting, firm and clean, sound in colour and free from blemishes.

Colour and Markings...10 Points

               All standard Tumbler colours and markings. (for description of colours and markings please refer to the Long Faced Tumbler: colour standard):

Selfs –

In black, Dun, White, Red, Yellow, Almond, Kite, Deroy, Brown, Khaki, Andalusion.

Bars and Chequers –

In Blue, Silver, Mealy, Cream, Grizzle, Indigo.

Marked –

In beard, Baldhead, Rosewing, Mottle, Whiteside.

Disqualifications Excessive plucking, dyeing, fraud, eye colour other than pearl (as stated earlier), bird not belonging to the exhibitor. Ring Size: All birds must be banded with a ring of the correct size. Maximum ring size is ANPA size ‘B’ – 8mm inside diameter.