Large Type Greenfinch

 

Show Standard

 

 

Based on the British Standard set by the British Bird Council.

 

 

SIZE:

 

As large as possible. 16.5 cm minimum.

 

TYPE:

 

Beak;            

 

Short, heavy and conical that must complement the head.

 

Head;

 

Broad well rounded head with good rise and well cushioned at front, set on full neck.

 

Body;

 

Short, nicely rounded and thick set, of strong appearance.In profile there should be a round sweep from below the throat, down the belly to underneath the vent. Likewise there should be a convex curve from the back of the neck to the rump.

 

Set well across the perch, standing at angle of approx. 45 degrees.

 

Thighs;

 

Not visible.

 

Wings;

 

Well kept against body covering the uppertail coverts, should not be crossed or hanging.

 

Tail;

 

Relatively short, closed and distinctly forked.

 

COLOUR & MARKINGS:

 

COCKS:

 

Beak;

 

Of a pale flesh colour.

 

Eyes;

 

Dark brown.

 

Head;

 

Forehead green, dark lores. Supracilium lighter green.

 

Crown and nape green brown. Moustachial stripes, darker, should be evident. Ear coverts grey.

 

Mantle;

 

Green brown with darker brown streaks.

 

Rump;

 

Green not contrasting with mantle. Uppertail coverts olive green to greyish brown distally.

 

Underside;

 

Breast and throat to be a rich, bright grass green as clear and solid as possible blending into a yellower hue towards the lower belly keeping the white around the vent to a minimum.

 

Undertail coverts yellow blending to olive green distally.

 

Flanks;

 

Green brown.

 

Wings;

 

$1·      Scapulars – Green brown blending with mantle.

 

$1·      Primaries – To show rich yellow wing bars, forming a long blaze on lower edge of folded wing.

 

$1·      Secondaries – Black with grey fringes which become more broad and brownish on tertials.

 

$1·      Lesser coverts – Green.

 

$1·      Median coverts – Olive green.

 

$1·      Greater coverts – Brownish grey.

 

$1·      Primary coverts – Black with green edging.

 

$1·      Alula – Bright yellow.

 

Tail;

 

Black with brilliant yellow basal patches having slight grey outer edge.

 

Middle tail feathers black with green edging.

 

Legs & toes;            Flesh color.

 

Nails;                          Dark flesh.

 

HENS:

 

Similar type to male.

 

Colour to be of rich brownish and olive hues. Yellow in wings and tail not so extensive and bright as in male.

 

Beak;             Similar to male.

 

Eyes;              Similar to male.

 

Head;            

 

Forehead brown tinged green. Supracilium lighter.

 

Crown and nape brown with darker markings.

 

Moustachial stripes, darker brown should be evident. Ear coverts grey.

 

Mantle;

 

Brown with darker streaks. Markings on the back are aligned, narrowing towards the head and ending at the lower back.

 

Rump;

 

Green, uppertail coverts olive green to brown distally.

 

Underside;

 

Throat greyish brown with green tinge.

 

Breast light brown with green tinge having darker markings.

 

The markings over the chest are wider and less evident.

 

Belly light green progressing to white around vent.

 

Undertail coverts grey with light brown tinge.

 

Flanks;           Brown.

 

Wings;

 

$1·      Scapulars - Brown.

 

$1·      Primaries - Black Brown. Yellow outer fringe, narrower and less bright than in male.

 

$1·      Secondaries - Black Brown with grey brown fringes.

 

$1·      Lesser coverts - Olive green.

 

$1·      Median coverts - Olive green to brown.

 

$1·      Greater coverts - Brownish grey

 

$1·      Primary coverts - Black with green edging.

 

$1·      Alula - Black brown with yellow fringe.

 

Tail;

 

Black with yellow outer edge. Middle tail feathers black brown.

 

Legs & toes;            Flesh color.

 

Nails;              Dark flesh.

 

Size Note:

 

Though larger birds are preferred, size should not be detrimental to colour and shape.

 

The standard calls for the greenfinch to be the largest possible, however selecting greater birds might induce the appearance of a number of handicaps, namely; defective plumage, decreased fertility, weakness and low immunity. No breeder should aim to perpetuate such bad faults and breed from birds with such traits.

 

Type Note:

 

The head should not appear angular or ‘boxy’. There should be a good rise from above the base of the upper mandible giving the appearance of a distinct forehead. The skull should be wide across the top and broad at the back.

 

The body should compact and plump with a robust and rounded appearance.

 

Type Faults:

 

Narrow skull. Eyes badly positioned. Too large or small beak.

 

One of the biggest faults evident in many greenfinches is the appearance of a straight line from the top of the head to the tip of the tail sometimes referred to as “a back like a ski slope” or the bird being “long sided“. No bird with a straight back can have the desired rounded appearance. Worse still is the bird whose back is concave or dipped inwards.

 

Deformities, pear shaped, overweight on chest and vent area causing bad posture.

 

Birds should not be crouched or squatting on perch.

 

Bad wing carriage. Long tail. Missing or broken nails.

 

Color & Markings Note:

 

Male;

 

Although brownish hues on the crown, back and flanks are not to be considered as faults, greener birds are considered superior.

 

Yellow undertail coverts are considered an asset.

 

Back markings are an enhancement.

 

Buff birds obviously show less colour than yellows and it’s difficult for a buff greenfinch cock to beat the best yellows although highly coloured buffs sometimes do win as they often are superior in type and size to many yellows.

 

Male Faults:

 

Colour impurities such as smokiness or too much grey suffusion, giving a dark appearance.

 

Brown infiltration on the breast and belly.

 

Yellow being pale.

 

Yellow basal patches on tail too short and black extremities too long.

 

Color & Markings Note:

 

Female;

 

The white around the vent area is more extensive compared to the males often extending over the abdomen.

 

Good yellow hens will show a lot of colour particularly on the breast and if they have decent size and good type will often do a good deal of winning. Although good quality buff hens will often beat the yellows in their class they often then get beaten by a yellow cock for Best Greenfinch.

 

Female Faults:

 

White too extensive giving the impression of a pale bird.

 

General notes:

 

Bird must stand proudly and resolutely on its perch staring confidently at onlookers.

 

Where yellow and buff exhibits are of equal merit, yellow to take precedence.   However where a buff of good rich colour is of a superior type, buff must then take precedence.

 

General faults:

 

Poor presentation, insufficiently trained, unsteady bird.