Standard English Trumpeter - Site Disabled

English Trumpeter Standard of Perfection

I. General Description

The English Trumpeter is a medium sized (similar to
a Show Racer), double-crested (head and beak),
muffed trumpeter. It has many colors in 4 basic
patterns: Self, Splash, Barred and Marked. The
breed is distinguished from the other double crested,
muffed trumpeter varieties by its short "cobby" low
stationed body and relatively narrow tuft supported
by side boards. It has a gentle behavior, rich
"drumming" voice and is a prolific breeder. The
quality specimen of either sex always shows power,
bullyness, proudness, style, type and refinement.
These distinctive qualities conform to the standard
requirements in a harmonious manner producing a
well-balanced, powerful and stylish English
Trumpeter.

II. Standard Description

A. Conformation of the Head (10 pts.): The size of
the head shall be medium to large while being in
balance with the whole bird. The head shall be
broad, full and flat. When viewed from the top, the head shall be broad, flat and wedge-shaped
(wider at the back than the front). Great width at the back of the skull gives the head a powerful
appearance. Faults: Head shall not be too small (pinched) or too large, making it out of proportion
and balance with the whole bird. From the top view, it shall not appear elongated or lack a wedge-
shape. Head shall not have any appearance of ovalness.
B. Crest (12 pts.): A desirable crest shall be constituted of the following: Height: Crest feathers
shall be as high as possible providing the crest is in proportion and balance with the rest of the bird.
Width: The crest shall be as wide as possible. Its width is determined by the head's size, direction of
feather growth, feather length and wedge-shape. The crest's distinct demarcation line (junction
between the base of the crest face and skull feathers) and crest face (front row of crest feathers)
emphasizes the width of both the crest and head. Wrap: From the top view the crest shall be a semi-
circular outline, wrapping around the back of the head and extending both forward and outward just
beyond, but not below the ears, ending in prominent rosettes (Note: see rosette section for
description) Cushion: The crest's cushion (feathers located between the back of the crest face and
top of mane) shall be as dense as possible and of the same height as the crest face. The cushion
feathers shall blend smoothly into the mane without any break. Placement: The crest shall be
positioned on the highest point on the back of the head. Crest's position shall remain stationary
when the bird is being handled as well as in the judging pen. From side view the crest shall rise at a
90-degree angle from the skull with the top of the crest feathers curving slightly forward. The 90-
degree angle will realize the crest's greatest height potential. Crest's demarcation line shall be
distinct, defining the base of the crest face with a finely etched unbroken line. Faults: Lack of
proper feather length. Lack of density in cushion. No crest wrap. Crest placed too low. Relaxation
of crest causing its displacement into the mane and/or neck feathers (too "loose"). Capping of the
crest (falling forward).

C. Tuft (4 pts.): The tuft is a tassel shaped growth of feathers protruding from the front of the head
towards the beak and curving over the wattle. The tuft is supported underneath and contained on
both sides by sideboards (dense plumage that grows vertically at the rear of the beak). Sideboards
curve slightly forward to prevent the tuft from being too high and dense enough to prevent it from
being too wide. The wattle shall not be completely hidden by the tuft from the side view but it shall
be hidden from the top view. The less skin showing at the line where the tuft originates the better.
The bird's eyes shall be visible from the front view without any obstructions. From the front and top
view the tuft shall be neat and narrow. Tuft and sideboards shall be neat, dense, clean-cut and have
the appearance of a smooth, solid unit. Faults: Circular or rose tufts as found on Bokhara or German
Trumpeters. Tuft feathers that are swirled, twisted or growing straight up. Lack of sideboards or
when they are too prominent, disheveled and sparse appearance of tuft and sideboards.
D. Rosettes (4 pts.): The rosette is a small swirling outgrowth of feathers radiating from a tiny
central point near the ear hole. There shall be 2 rosettes, 1 on either side of the head, marking the
ends of the semi-circular crest. The rosette shall be approximately 1/2" in diameter. It shall be
positioned at the bird's eye level and as near the ear hole as possible. Rosettes shall be prominent
when a bird is in the judging pen as well as when being examined in the hand. Faults: The absence
of 1 or both rosettes. Rosettes that are too large or too small. Rosettes placed too low or placed to
the rear of the crest. Rosettes that are unequal in size or uneven in shape.
E. Eye (2 pts.): Note: See color descriptions for eye colors. Eyes shall be deep orange in all colors
except: Whites, Baldheads, Saddles and those marked patterns where the head feathers are White;
these markings shall have bull eyes (solid black). Eyes shall be clear, alert and indicate robust
health. Faults: Non-orange eyes except Whites, Baldheads, Saddles and those marked patterns
where the head feathers are white. Non-bull eyes in Whites, Baldheads, Saddles and those marked
patterns where the head feathers are White. Cracked, split or odd colored eyes. Wrong colored eyes
to be a fault but not a disqualification.
F. Eye Ceres (0 pts.): Note: See color class description for eye cere points. Ceres shall be narrow
and as fine in texture as possible. Ceres shall be flesh color in all colors except: Blacks, Blues,
Lavenders, Mealies, and Silvers, which shall be grayish in color. Faults: Ceres that are too wide and
coarse in texture. Non-flesh color ceres except Blacks, Blues, Mealies and Silvers. Bright red ceres,
especially in Whites and Baldheads are to be avoided. Feathers missing around the eye making it
appear too prominent.
G. Wattle (0 pts.): Wattle shall be small, white and fine in texture. Faults: Too large, non-white,
and coarse in texture.
H. Beak (0 pts.): Beak shall be medium in length with good substance and width. Angle of beak
setting to be slightly declining (less than straight). Faults: Too long or too short. Too wide or too
narrow. Not substantial in appearance. Improper angle of beak setting, too low or horizontal.
I. Neck (5 pts.): The neck is the area located between the bottom of the head and the chest. It shall
be short, stout and well developed, showing "bullyness" and power. The neck length shall range
from 1" to 1 3/4". The neck shall be in proportion to the size of the bird. It shall have enough length,
1", and taper to make it clearly distinguishable from the head and chest. The neck shall gradually
enlarge from the bottom of the head to the chest from any point of view. It shall be slightly arched
when viewed from the side in order to give the bird a proud, graceful appearance. Faults: A neck
longer than 1 3/4" or shorter than 1" from chest to bottom of the head. A neck so short as to appear
that the head sits on the shoulders. A neck so long as to appear gangly. It shall not be thin or snaky.
The neck must not lack taper or cut back sharply under the beak.

J. Mane (4 pts.): The mane consists of horizontal feathers on each side of the head, extending
backwards from the ear areas and meeting under the base of the cushion and above the neck
feathers. The mane feathers shall be long enough to blend harmoniously into the crest cushion and
neck as well as complete the mane. It shall have enough feathers to give a dense appearance. Mane
feathers must have the quill strength to give the effect of tightness. Faults: Mane feathers that are
too short or lack strength. Loose plumage, lacking density. A gap in the mane when its 2 sides do
not meet and blend together. A "break" between the neck feathers and the crest cushion that disrupts
their continuity.
K. Body (20 pts.):
Body Conformation & Weight - The body shall be short, cobby and heart-shaped when viewed
from the back. This heart-shape shall be created by the bird's broad shoulder tapering down to
where the wing tips meet. From the side view the distance between the underbody and back shall be
as deep as possible. Body shall both appear to be heavy, firm and robust. Faults: Narrow shoulders.
Insufficient chest to back measurement (caused by lack of underbody). The bird shall not appear to
be or actually be light.
Chest/Underbody - The chest shall be prominent and its lower underbody area shall be as deep as
possible preventing daylight from showing between the bird's legs. From the front view it shall be
full, wide and deep. The underbody shall conceal the space between the legs. The shape of the chest
shall be well rounded in a graceful curve when viewed from any angle. The chest feathers shall
cover the wing butts. Faults: Exposed wing butts. Narrow chest from the front view. Shallow
underbody. Flat chest. Broody or over-filled crop appearance.
Back - The back shall be broad and flat at the shoulders (no hollowness or roundness) and taper to
the end of the rump pad, giving it an appearance of width and strength. The rump pad shall be broad
and full. Faults: Narrow shoulders. Lack of flatness, i.e., hollow or round back. Insufficient taper. A
rump that is too small and lacking in density of cushion.
Wings - The wings shall fit tightly to the curvature of the body and always be carried on the top of
the tail. Wing butts shall be hidden by chest feathers. Wing flights shall end 1/2" from the tip of the
tail. The flights shall lie flat on the tail from the rump to the wing tips. Faults: Exposed wing butts.
Flights not lying flat on the tail from the rump to the wing tips (these are called "sideboards", not to
be confused with the sideboard of the tuft). Flights dragging or falling below the tail. Lack of
feather cover from shoulder to rump. Crossed wing flights. Flights extending beyond 1/2" from
inside the tip of the tail. Any missing primary feathers.
Tail - The tail shall be 1 to 1 1/2 feathers wide. It shall be short, extending 1/2" beyond wing tips. A
short tail and short flights in balance with each other are necessary ingredients in having a short,
cobby body. The angle of the tail shall be a continuation of the 45-degree body angle. Tip of the tail
shall barely clear the floor. Faults: Tail wider than 1 1/2 feathers ("shovel tail"). Tail that extends
more than 1/2" past the end of the wing tips. Tail that consistently touches the ground. Less or more
than 12 tail feathers.
L. Muffs/Hock (14 pts.): The muff shall consist of 3 layers of circular rows of feathers. The first
row on the ground is the longest and is covered by the second and third layer, each of which is
respectively shorter. Each muff shall have a round shape, dense plumage and lay flat on the ground.
They shall be as big as possible providing they are in proportion and balance with the rest of the
bird. The circular outline of the muffs shall be continuous without any break, "split"). The feet, toes
and legs shall be completely hidden by muff feathers. The bird shall have good control of its muffs
and shall be able to walk without stumbling. The hock is made up of feathers above the leg joint
that extends rearward, parallel to the wing flights, ending at the rear of the back muff feathers.

There shall be no space between the hocks and muffs; this provides the desired appearance of
continuity between muffs, hocks and body. Faults: Space between muff feathers, "split". Any
feather not laying flat (twisted or inverted feathers). Non-circular shape (especially when the muff's
front feathers are longer than others.) Broken or frizzled feathers caused by weak quill strength.
Hock feathers longer or shorter than the back edge of the muff. Any break between hock and muff.
M. Station/Legs (5 pts.): Station refers to the position or bearing of the bird while standing. The
back (shoulders to rump) shall be at a 45-degree angle to the ground. The tip of the tail shall be as
low as possible without touching the ground. The angle of the full rounded chest shall rise gradually
and blend with the short, stout neck giving the bird a proud, alert appearance. The length of the legs
and their setting are important features that influence the station of the English Trumpeter. Legs
shall be short; the underbody at the leg setting shall be 1" from the ground. Legs shall be set
relatively wide apart to give the appearance of stability and power. It is very important that the
English Trumpeter be calm and alert, yet poised in the judging pen, positioning itself so as to
advantageously show all its features. Faults: The angle of the back being more or less than 45
degrees. Listless station. Legs more or less than 1" from the floor. Legs set too far apart giving bow
legged appearance. Legs set too close together so that walking is impaired. Legs that show lameness
or deformity. A tail that consistently touches the ground. Rearing back and sitting on the tail. Wild
or nervous, not showing feathers advantageously while being judge. A general lack of proudness or
elegance, "type" or "style".
N. Style (10 pts.): The English Trumpeter's ideal style refers to the bird's overall appearance and
demeanor. It is its artistic component that can best be described as expressing the qualities of:
bullyness, proudness, power, cobbyness, grace, and elegant refinement. Although abstract in nature
these aesthetic qualities are achieved by physical means. In order to achieve the required style, the
following conditions must be met:
1. All the features that characterize the English Trumpeter must be present and properly developed
(as described in the English Trumpeter Standard; i.e. crest, rosettes, muffs, etc.) To give clear,
distinctive identity to such features they must be created out of numerous rows of densely packed
"hard" feather. It is this state of hardness that also contributes to a dense solidity while handling the
bird (i.e. "In the hand"", as well as by looking at it in the cage. With soft or frayed feather the
features are vague, lifeless, and evoke a general level of coarseness. The ideal style requires hard
feather as the basic means to achieve its aesthetic ends.
2. The English Trumpeter's adjacent features must be blended so that they flow smoothly together
without interruption such as "breaks" or "sideboards". The ideal English Trumpeter does not appear
to be made up of separate distinct parts, rather it has the look of a singular, unified whole with a
slight graceful "S" shaped contour (In a way its silhouette and smooth form is like that of an alert
ocean seal).
3. The well-put-together English Trumpeter must carry itself with poise and dignity. Its energized
pose, with short legs and chest up, expresses an attitude of confident, noble bearing. No matter how
well the correct features come together, if the carriage is lethargic or spiritless or simply absent, the
bird will only be an inert, styleless lump of feathers. The English Trumpeter depends on its body
language for its stylish presentation. The style requires that all distinguishing features must first be
in place, then properly defined and molded together, and finally presented with an alert carriage or
pose that gives the whole bird an air of elegant distinction. The ideal English Trumpeter's style
ultimately transforms the ordinary looking bird into one with extraordinary beauty.
O. Colour (10 pts.): Colour referee makes final decision on colour disputes.
Self (Any solid coloured bird without a terminal tail bar or markings):

Black (blue pigment; intense; spread factor): Shall be intense jet black throughout and covered with
a rich, beetle green luster. Orange eyes with gray ceres and black beak. Faults: Non-orange eye
color. Non-gray eye cere. Non-black beak, stained beak. Smutty or sooty shade of black, any signs
of a bar in the wing or tail.
White (absence of color pigment in feathers): Shall be pure white throughout. The feather's quill
and all its parts shall be white. Shall have "bull", solid black, with flesh colored beak and eye ceres.
Faults: Non-fleshed colored eye cere, especially red, and beak. Non-bull eye. A stained beak in
Whites is a disqualification.
Red (spread factor; intense; recessive red factor): Shall be a deep, rich, clear, intense red
throughout. Shall have as much sheen as possible. Orange eyes, light horn colored beak and flesh
colored ceres. Faults: Non-orange eyes. Non-flesh colored ceres. Non-light horn colored beak.
Stained beak. Ash tincture.
Yellow (spread factor; dilute; recessive red factor): Shall be a deep rich golden yellow throughout.
Orange eyes, flesh colored ceres and light horn colored beak. Faults: Non-orange eyes. Non-flesh
colored ceres. Non-light horn colored beak. Stained beak. Ash tincture.
Dun (blue pigment; dilute; spread factor): Shall be a rich, even shade of brownish steel gray
throughout. Orange eyes, flesh colored ceres and light horn colored beak. Faults: Non-orange eyes.
Non-flesh colored ceres. Non-light horn colored beak, stained beak. Showing any signs of Bar or
Check pattern.
Lavender (Ash red pigment; intense; spread factor): Color shall be a clear, soft, ash-gray rather
evenly distributed over the entire body. Color hackle, neck feathers, is slightly darker. Color of
flights and tail slightly lighter. Eyes shall be orange, ceres gray and beak dark horn color. NOTE:
The color lavender referred to in English Trumpeters is not the genetic lavender, which has the
milky factor. Faults: Non-orange eyes. Non-gray ceres. Non-dark horn colored beak. Stained beak.
AOC Self (any other color): This color class includes all selfs, showing no white, that have not
been described elsewhere in the standard. Examples: Checkers, Bronze, Kite, Smokey Bar, multi-
colored birds lacking white feathers. Self colors in this class must be able to be genetically
described. The AOC Self Class does not include full colors from the previously listed classes, Dun
Bars, Dun Checks, Faded Blacks, poor colored Reds or Yellows, etc. NOTE: A self colored bird
with a few stray white feathers shall be shown in its appropriate self class. The white feathers shall
be considered a fault. Birds fitting this description do not belong in a Splash Class.
Andalusian (Blue pigment, Intense, Spread and Indigo Factors): Body and tail shall be an even
shade of midnight blue shading to black on the head and neck. Wings are a bit lighter with dark blue
edging on each feather. The Indigo Factor may be applied to any standard color but only Black
Indigo is to be known as "Andalusian".
Almond (Any pigment, T-Factor, Almond Factor): Almond is a factor which alters or modifies any
color that it is introduced into by causing flecks of various colors to appear in the feathering over all
parts of the bird. In the flights and tail 3 colors: rich rust yellow, black and white shall occur in
combination, each clearly separated as to color on each feather, this separation is call "break". Eyes
shall be orange, ceres shall be flesh colored and beak shall have a light horn color. Faults: Non-
orange eyes. Non-flesh colored ceres. Non-horn colored beak, stained beak. Color that deviates
from the above description.
Splash: Any random distribution of white and colored feathers, no fixed pattern. There shall be the
appearance of an equal number colored to white feathers, 50% to 50%. Colored feathers shall be

described in their appropriate self color class. NOTE: Due to the large number of black splashes, at
some shows, they are divided into 2 classes: light black splash, less than 50% colored feathers, and
dark black splash, more than 50% colored feathers.
Marked Colors: Fixed pattern of colored (and white where appropriate) feathers.
Whiteside: All feathers, except wing shield and secondary wing flights shall be properly colored
according to appropriate self color class description (currently red and yellow are the only colors
bred but new colors are possible in the future). Wing shield and secondary wing flights shall be
white. Eyes shall be orange, ceres flesh colored and beak a light horn color. Faults: White feathers
anywhere except wing shield and secondary flights, especially flecking in neck, chest, rump or
muffs. Colored feathers on the wing shield or in the secondary flights. Non-orange eyes. Non-flesh
colored ceres. Non-light horn colored beak. Stained beak.
Mottle: Head and neck shall be splashed or speckled to the chest. Entire chest, underbody and tail
shall be a solid color. All 10 primary wing flights shall be colored for a perfect mottle pattern. A
minimum of the first 3 flights, outside flights, shall be colored to qualify as a Mottle. Remaining 7
primaries are preferred to be colored, however, white feathers will be allowed but recognized as a
fault. Colored feathers shall be colored according to appropriate Self color class. Eye ceres, beak
color and eye color shall conform to appropriate self color class requirements. Faults: Any deviation
from the above description. Feathers lacking intense color. Eye, cere or beak color not conforming
to appropriate self color class requirements. If any of the first 3 outside flights are white, the bird
does not qualify for Mottle competition.
Baldhead: Chest, body and wings shall be a rich solid color that conforms to appropriate self color
class. Tail to be either a rich solid color or completely white but not mixed. Front of the head,
including tuft, to the front of the crest face shall be white. White neck, bib, shall extend around the
neck to approximately 1/2" below the tip of the beak when pressed down on the chest. All the
primary flights and muffs shall be white. Eyes shall be bull, black, ceres flesh colored and beak
light horn color. Point distribution: the 10 points given to color are to be broken as follows: 4 points
for quality of color, 6 points for markings. Faults: Colored feathers in designated white areas and
white feathers in designated colored areas, called "Mismarked". Feathers lacking intense color.
Non-bull eyes. Non-flesh colored ceres. Non-light horn colored beak, stained beak.
Genetic Colors: This is an experimental class for new colors and markings currently being
developed and established for future inclusion as official color classes in the standard. A color or
marking becomes recognized as an official class when there are a minimum of 3 exhibitors and 16
birds shown in a single show. After 10 years since introduction into the Genetic class, a particular
color should be moved into its appropriate AOC class if it has not been established as a color class.
This time frame would accommodate the factors which are recessive and only exhibit themselves
when in the homozygous state.
Barred (Solid color):
Blue (Blue pigment, Intense, Bar Pattern): Head color to be a rich even shade of blue-gray. Neck
feathers, hackles, to be a bit darker shade showing a rich sheen of primary green and secondary
purple, with the color carried out through the secondary feathers and blending in with the blackish
tips of these feathers. Wings, when folded into the body, should show 2 distinct black bars. Muff
feathers to be a shade of blue-gray and blending into blackish tips. Lower back and rump should be
powder blue-gray, all other body feathers should be an even shade of blue-gray. Tail is a bit darker
shade of blue-gray. Slight albescent strip on the outer edge of the outer most tail feathers. Eyes shall
be orange, ceres to be grayish and beak black. Faults: Sign of 3rd bar or check pattern. Bronzing in
feathers. Non-orange eyes. Non-grayish ceres. Non-black beak or stained beak.

Silver (Blue pigment, Dilute, Bar Pattern): Head, wings, muffs and body shall be an even shade of
light silvery gray. Hackles, flights and tail shall be a darker shade. Wings shall have 2 well defined
dark Dun bars. Tail shall have 1 bar close to the tip of the tail. Muff feathers shall end in a dark Dun
tip. Faults: Non-orange eyes. Non-grayish ceres. Non-light horn colored beak. Stained beak. Yellow
or gold tinge, especially in wing bars or chest. Showing any sign of a 3rd bar or check pattern.
Mealy (Ash Red pigment, Intense, Bar Pattern): Ash Red and Mealy are the same color in English
Trumpeters. Head, wings, body, tail and muffs shall be a soft, light lavender. Hackle and neck
feathers shall be a dark red ground color with light frosting. Wings shall have 2 dark red bars.
Orange eyes, gray ceres and light horn colored beak. Faults: Non-orange eyes. Non-gray ceres.
Non-light horn colored beak. Stained beak or black beak. Showing any signs of 3rd bar or check
pattern.
Cream (Ash Red pigment, Dilute, Bar Pattern): Head, wings, body, tail and muffs shall be a light,
soft, clear cream. Hackles, neck feathers, shall be a dark yellow with light frosting. 2 well defined
dark yellow wing bars shall be present. Eyes shall be orange, ceres a grayish white and the beak a
light horn color. Faults: Non-orange eyes. Non-grayish white ceres. Non-light horn colored beak.
Stained beak. Sign of a 3rd bar or check pattern.
AOC Bar (Any other color): This class includes all barred birds that have not been described
elsewhere in the Standard. Examples: opal bar, grizzle (bar pattern or barless pattern), indigo bar,
and barless. The AOC Bar class does not include cull colors from previously listed classes, e.g. dun
bars, smokey bars, faded blacks, spread ash red or ash yellow with faint bars showing (these are
spread birds and should be shown in the AOC Self class). NOTE: A barred bird with a few stray
white feathers shall be shown in its appropriate bar class. The white feathers shall be considered a
fault. Birds fitting this description do not belong in a splash class.
Barless: (Recessive trait that can be introduced into any barred color) any barred color without the
wing bars. Barless shall have a single tail bar. The color description shall be the same as the barred
description with the exception of the mission wing bars. Eyes, beak and cere requirements to be the
same as the barred variety. Faults: Any sign of a bar or check on the wing shield. Any deviation
from the required eye, cere and beak colors called for in the Barred Variety.
Saddle: Entire bird except wing shields shall be white. First 10 primary wing flights shall be white.
Wing shields and secondary flights shall be a solid color like those described in self color classes.
Eyes shall be bull, black, ceres flesh color and beak a light horn color. Faults: Color feathers in
designated white areas and white feathers in designated colored areas, called "Mismarked". Colored
feathers poorly colored. Non-bull eyes. Non-flesh colored ceres, especially Red. Non-light horn
colored beak. Stained beak.
P. Combining Color Classes: Color classes may be combined to promote competition where non
otherwise would exist. This is done at the discretion of the color class referee or judge. Only classes
not eligible for Superior Breeder Points shall be considered when combining classes. Additionally,
any class which has a specific award or special associated with it may not be combined. Like
classes may only be combined (selfs with selfs, baldheads with baldheads, barred with barred, etc.).
Q. Disqualifications: Birds showing any evidence of cross-breeding (allowed only in genetic
class). Stained beak in Whites only. Excessive plucking i.e. leaving a noticeable bare spot or any
other artificial alternation such as scissoring of feathers (most commonly in crest area). 3 or more
wing flights or primary tail feathers not full grown or missing, thus making the bird appear shorter
than it is. Sickness or serious physical deformity.

R. Awarding color points in the finals: When judging for Champion of the show and a White Self
is involved, the White is to be awarded the same number of color points as the highest scoring bird
in the finals. A White may never score more points than the highest scoring colored, Splash, Barred
or marked birds in the finals.

III. Point Card System

The point card system shall be in effect during the judging for champion. Not less than the final
three birds going for champion shall be point carded. More than three may be point carded if the
judge desires. The point card system shall be in effect during all judging (only in the finals must it
be written).

Scale of Points for the English Trumpeter

Head Conformation 10 points
Eyes 2 points
Tuft 4 points
Crest 12 points
Rosettes 4 points
Mane 4 points
Neck 5 points
Body 20 points
Muffs and Hocks 14 points
Station and Legs 5 points
Style 10 points
Color and Markings 10 points
TOTAL 100 points