ABS Standard of Perfection for Ideal Budgie
See also Ideal Budgie
and Show Faults
- CONDITION: The term “condition” applies to physical condition, health, cleanliness,
full plumage, and training. Any bird not in proper condition may be eliminated from top awards. - HEAD: The head should be large, round, wide and symmetrical when viewed from any
angle; curvature of the skull commencing at the cere, to lift outward and upward, continuing over
the top and to the base of the head in one gracful sweep. Hens may have a slightly lower dome. - NECK: The head should join smoothly to the body by a neck of proportionate size. It should
be short and wide when it is viewed from any angle. - BODY: The body should taper gracefully from nape of neck to tip of tail, with an
approximately straight back line. The chest line should be nicely curved and then taper
gracefully back in an approximately straight line to tip of tail. The chest should not be unduly
shallow, nor excessively full. The total body should be in proportion. - TAlL: The tail should be straight and tight with two long feathers, proportionate in length with
size of body. It should form a natural continuation of the body lines, being held neither above,
below, nor to one side of this line. - LEGS and FEET: The legs should be straight and strong, supporting the bird standing,
gripping the perch firmly with two front and two rear toes and claws. - WINGS: The wings should be approximately two fifth the total length of the bird, neatly
shaped, well braced and carried just above the cushion of the tail. Not crossed. - EYES: To be bold and bright, and positioned well away from the front, top and back of skull.
- BEAK: Small and neat, and set well into face.
- CERE: Neat and in proportion with beak, with color and texture appropriate to its sex and
variety. - POSITION AND TRAINING: Steady on the perch at an angle of
30 degrees from the vertical, looking alert, and natural. - SIZE: The Ideal Exhibibition Budgerigar is neither too large nor is
it too small, but rather and equally proportioned bird approximately
9 inches in length. - COLOR: Color clear, distinct, and of an even shade.
- MASK AND SPOTS: Mask to be clear, deep and wide, ornamented by four evenly spaced
spots, supported by two spots under the cheek patches; the size of the spots to be in proportion
to the makeup of the bird. - MARKINGS: Wavy markings on cheek, head, neck, back and
wings, to be neat, clear-cut and well balanced.