GUIDELINES FOR JUDGES AND EXHIBITORS

Where the word penalised is used, a penalty should be applied by the judge, according to the degree of severity of the fault and/or defect. Where a DIRECTIVE is given it must be strictly adhered to.

PENALTIES COMMON TO ALL VARIETIES

1.         CONDITION. Perfect show condition can be defined as a bird that is complete in feather. Whether it is Yellow or Buff, the feather should show the bloom of good health and good preparation. Any bird not in perfect show condition should be penalised.

2.         FLECKING is defined as any dark mark (flecks, grizzle or zebra) on the crown or frontal of the head, these markings should be penalised severely bearing in mind that the standard for every variety denotes THE FRONTAL AND CROWN MUST BE CLEAR AND FREE FROM ALL MARKINGS. Flecking should be treated as a Major Fault.

3.          OPALESCENCE. This fault can occur in all varieties where the pattern and distribution of markings is as the normal light green, and is defined as being a visible overlay of body colour intruding on the cheeks, back of head, neck and wings which detracts from the definition of markings as depicted in the pictorial ideal and described in the colour standards. The varying degree of opalescence must be penalised accordingly.

4.         SPOTS. Where applicable in the standards, missing, irregular or badly shaped spots should be penalised.

5.         PRIMARY FLIGHTS. Birds displaying less or more than seven primary flights should be penalised.

6.         INHERENT FAULTS. e.g. Dropped tail, nipped neck, poor backline, poor deportment, poor wing-carriage, beakiness etc... should be penalised.

7.         TEMPORARY FAULTS. Missing spot feathers (particularly outer spots) and the presence of pin feathers or blood quills should be assessed with due regard to the effect on the overall condition and balance of the exhibit and should be penalised accordingly.

8.         BODY COLOUR. Patchiness and/or dilution of body colour below the level of that described in the Colour Standards and any suffusion of another colour other than that described in the Colour Standards should be penalised.

DISQUALIFICATIONS COMMON TO ALL VARIETIES (DIRECTIVE)

9.             Birds showing any sign of SCALYFACE must be removed from the show bench by the show management and referred to the judge.   Where possible affected birds should be isolated from the show hall, as should any exhibit which shows signs of sickness or distress.

10.              LONG-FLIGHTED/LONG-TAIL. A bird carrying long flights or long tails characteristics should be disqualified (DIRECTIVE).

            LONGFLIGHTS - a bird carrying long-flighted characteristics with flights extending beyond the rump feathers. These flights may be crossed or hanging below the cushion of the tail/rump. These birds must be treated as Longflights and MUST be disqualified.

            The ideal length of the wing should be 45% of the ideal length of the budgerigar measured from the wing butt to the tip of the longest primary flight. The wing must contain seven visible primary flight feathers fully grown and carried just above the cushion of the tail and not crossed.

            LONGTAILS - a bird with an excessive length of one or both of the two primary tail feathers taking account of the overall length of the budgerigar. It is important to consider size, shape, balance and deportment of the whole bird when looking at the tail and not just looking at the tail in isolation and measuring the tail from the perch to floor of the show cage. These birds are also to be treated as Longflights and MUST be disqualified.

            The ideal tail represents approximately 35% of the bird's overall length and no matter how long the bird is, the tail should remain in that proportion.

Note: For example, if a bird is 8 and half (216mm) to 9 and half (241mm) inches long, the visual tail length should be 2 and seven eights of an inch (73mm) to 3 and three eighth (86mm) inches. Anything significantly longer than this is to be assessed as potentially being Longflight. The tail should follow the backline of the bird at 30 degrees from the vertical when measured through the eye to the tip of the tail.

11.              PRIMARY TAIL FEATHERS.  A bird missing both primary tail feathers should be

disqualified. Notwithstanding the bird lacks balance, a judge cannot assess whether this is a permanent or temporary fault (deformity).

12.              A bird showing ANY DEFORMITY should be disqualified to discourage fanciers breeding from such birds; thus presenting a good image to the fancy and the public at large.

FAULTS AND/OR DEFECTS CONFINED TO SPECIFIC VARIETIES, ADDITIONAL TO THOSE LISTED IN GUIDELINES AS ABOVE, WHERE APPLICABLE

13.       ANY VARIETY OPALINE.

            WING MARKINGS: The edges of all wing feathers should be well defined and show the same colour as the body, absence of body colour on the wings, smudging or thumb marks of the pattern and distribution of the Wing Markings should be penalised.

            MANTLE/SADDLE: Should be the same colour as the body and any dark markings within the 'V' area should be penalised, any very heavy dark markings within the area of undulations at the back of the head and neck should also be penalised.

            TAIL: Variegation of solid colour in primary tail feathers should be penalised.

14.       NORMAL and OPALINE CINNAMON, NORMAL and OPALINE GREYWING. The body colour in these four varieties should be penalised if it is below or in excess of 50% of the normal body colour.

15.       LUTINO AND ALBINO. The following deviations from the standard should be penalised: pale violet colour in cheek patches or cinnamon brown spots or markings on back, wings or tail. Lutino: there should be no green suffusion throughout. Albino: there should be no blue or grey suffusion throughout.

16.       CLEARWINGS (Normal Yellow-wings and Whitewings). The following deviations from the standard should be penalised:- dilution of the body colour down from 90% of the normal; pale violet, pale blue or pale grey cheek patches; presence of blue or grey colour in primary tail feathers; any markings on wings according to the depth of such markings.

17.       CRESTED. An incomplete or damaged circular, half circular or tufted crest should be penalised and the other faults listed in these guidelines for whichever variety is carrying the crest should also be considered and penalised accordingly.

18.       SPANGLE. The following deviations from the standard should be penalised severely:- completely black feathers on the wings; incomplete or absent throat spots.

            DOUBLE FACTOR SPANGLE.  Any black or grizzled ticking visible anywhere on the bird or green, blue or grey suffusion should be penalised.

19.       DOMINANT PIED.  The following deviations from the standard should be penalised:- an all clear yellow or white body colour; an unbroken body colour; all clear yellow or white wings; spillage of mask colour around the neck and back of head and the absence of one or more spots.

20.       CLEARFLIGHT. The absence of the head patch, broken body colour and/or the presence of dark primary wing or tail feathers should be penalised.

21.       RECESSIVE PIED. Dark markings on wings if less than 10% or more than 20% of total area should be penalised.

22.       ODD EYED PIEDS. Should be exhibited in the Dominant Pied Class and penalised accordingly.

23.       DARK-EYED CLEAR YELLOW and DARK-EYED CLEAR WHITE. Any odd green or blue feathers or green or blue suffusion in the body, or any black or grizzled ticking or suffusion in the wings should be penalised.

24.       YELLOWFACE Mutant 1. Spillage of yellow colour from the mask into the body colour should be penalised; the exception being as described in the NOTE in the Colour Standards.

25.        YELLOWFACE Mutant 2 and GOLDENFACE MUTATIONS. In the double factor form both may display some light spillage of yellow colour into the body colour adjacent to the bottom edge of the mask which is permissible; reference should be made to the NOTE in the Colour Standards.

26.       LACEWING.  Incomplete patterns of normal or opaline cinnamon brown markings including primary tail feathers or any suffusion of green or blue/grey colour into the body colour should be penalised.

27.       NORMAL AND OPALINE FALLOWS.  A complete absence of body colour should be penalised.

28.       CLEARBODY.  (Texas) Any dark colouring in the primary wing flights, any dilution of colour or smudging of the definition in the wing markings on cheeks, back of head, neck and or primary tail feathers should be penalised.

            (Easley) Any light colouring in the primary wing flights, any dilution of colour or smudging of the definition in the wing markings on cheeks, back of head, neck and or primary tail feathers should be penalised.

29.       THE STANDARDS OF PERFECTION, SCALE OF POINTS, COLOUR STANDARDS, IDEALS AND THESE GUIDELINES should all be read in conjunction with each other, they all play a part in serving as a guide to both the judge and exhibitor.

©/WBO 2014