26. Classification of Pigeon Colors
a. The color of the upper body and wings determines the principal color classification of pigeons. In addition to principal color classification (see [b(1)] below), include the following classifications when applicable:
(1) If any of the primary flights are white, the pigeon is classed as a “white flight.” Unless the flights are pure white the classification “white flight” is not made.
(2) If all the coverts exhibit a light gray fringe on their outer edges, presenting a checkered appearance rather than a solid color, the pigeon is classed as “checkered.”
(3) When a pigeon has white patches of feathers on its head, it is classed as “pied.” If these white patches extend to its body, it is classed as “splash.”
(4) If a pigeon exhibits one or two white feathers about the eyes, it is classed as “tick.”
b. Main color classifications for pigeons and their authorized abbreviations follow:
(1) Principal colors. |
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| Type | Abbreviation | Description |
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| Black | (Blk) | All feathers are black. |
| Blue | (B) | All feathers are grayish blue, generallywith two black bars on each wing. |
| Silver | (Sil) | All feathers are deep grayish silver,generally with two red bars on eachwing. |
| Red | (R) | All feathers are a solid brownish red(often called chocolate). |
(2) Checkers. |
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| Type | Abbreviation | Description |
|---|
| Black Checker | (Blk ch) | Principal color black with dark gray orchecker markings on rump and underpart of body. |
| Dark checker | (Dk ch) | Similar to black checker but showingmore distinct checker markings onthe wing. |
| Blue checker | (B ch) | Principally blue with checker markingson the body and wings. |
| Red checker | (R ch) | Principally red with checker markingson the body and wings. |
| Dun | (Dun) | Similar to silver except principal coloris of a darker shade. |
| Mealy | (Mly) | Similar to dun except that they do nothave sharply defined red markingson the wings. |
| Grizzle | (Griz) | Principal colors consist of red, black,and white mottled together. (Oftenthe black or red colors are not present.)Birds also will be found withgrizzle markings around the headand neck only. However, these birdswill be classified as grizzles and thewing markings may be indicated aswell. |
(3) Combinations. Examples of combinations of colorings and markings,together with their authorized abbreviations, are— |
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(a) Black with white flights pied (Blk wft pd). |
(b) Red with white flights (R wft). |
(c) Blue pied (B pd). |
(d) Black splash (Blk spl). |
(e) Red checkered splash (R Ch spl). |
(f) Blue checkered tick (B Ch tk). |
(g) Blue with white flights (B wft). |
(h) Checkered (Ch). |
(i) Grizzle with blue wing markings (B griz). |