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Photos Copyright : Jean-Michel EYTORFF<\/strong> THE MALTESE GREENFINCH, A POSTURE GREENFINCH OBTAINED BY GENETIC SELECTION<\/strong><\/p>\n Mutations do not only concern colour in birds. They can also be fixed and worked by selection on size or shape. By dint of perseverance, Maltese breeders have succeeded in breeding a greenfinch that no longer resembles the ancestral species found in the wild, the European greenfinch (Chloris chloris). My Maltese friends have kindly passed on to me the OMJ COM standard for the Greenfinch they have created, a domestic form that I will call the Posture Greenfinch, comparable to certain posture canaries such as the Norwich or Border. Logically, this form of Verdier should be listed as a domestic species under the regulations. With this in mind, UNICAB (Union Naturaliste pour les Int\u00e9r\u00eats de la Conservation Animale et de la Biodiversit\u00e9) and I have asked the Ministry to review the list of domestic species, which has remained unchanged since 2006.<\/p>\n I would add that if you really want to get to know the Maltese Greenfinch, there’s only one solution: go and see it in Malta! Thanks again to our Maltese friends for sending us this document.<\/p>\n The photos of Maltese Greenfinches were taken when they left the aviary. In preparation for shows, they take on 30% more volume and are also much rounder.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Male European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Male Maltese breeding Greenfinch (Chloris chloris) <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Male European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Male Maltese breeding Greenfinch (Chloris chloris)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Male European Greenfinch subspecies Chloris<\/span> chloris<\/span> aurantiiventris<\/span><\/span> (found in southern Spain, southern Europe and Greece)<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Male Maltese breeding Greenfinch (Chloris chloris)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Female European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Female Maltese breeding Greenfinch (Chloris chloris)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Exhibition standards<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Size:<\/strong> Colours and Markings<\/strong> Tail:<\/strong> FEMALES:<\/strong><\/p>\n NOTE<\/strong> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n It was in 2005, at the World Championship in Bad Salzuflen, that I had the chance to discover and judge my first Maltese Greenfinches. That was all it took for me to go and meet Jimmy Zammit Fava, the Maltese breeder whose birds had won medals. It was a welcome I’ll remember for the rest of my life and the discovery of this posture greenfinch, of Scottish origin, which by selection had already become a bird of particularly impressive volume and size thanks to the passion of this breeder<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n A Maltese greenfinch feeding during my visit.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Much later, I was lucky enough to come and judge twice in Malta at the Song Bird Association exhibition. A friendship was born from these encounters. A particularly dynamic club of competitors that shines every year at the COM World Championships. Birds of a level rarely, if ever, seen in France.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Souvenir of our last judging in 2022. Three French judges from the section judging this magnificent show, surrounded by Roderick, the best competitor in the Show. From left to right Jean-Luc, yours truly, Roderick, and David.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Best male Maltese Greenfinch Best in Show!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n\t Photos Copyright : Jean-Michel EYTORFF Maltese Greenfinch : breeder Roderick ABELLA THE MALTESE GREENFINCH, A POSTURE GREENFINCH OBTAINED BY GENETIC SELECTION Mutations do not only concern colour in birds. They…<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"menu_order":0,"template":"","format":"standard","categories":[121],"class_list":["post-1563","genetique","type-genetique","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-exposition-en","no-post-thumbnail"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hornemanni.fr\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/genetique\/1563","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hornemanni.fr\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/genetique"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hornemanni.fr\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/genetique"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hornemanni.fr\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hornemanni.fr\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1563"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hornemanni.fr\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1563"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nMaltese Greenfinch : breeder Roderick ABELLA<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.hornemanni.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/A73I9967-300x214.jpg\")
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<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nVerdier Major<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.hornemanni.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2023-12-20-a-19.04.42_b4cb0eb5-228x300.jpg\")
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\nAs large as possible, minimum 16.5cm.
\nType:<\/strong>
\nBeak;<\/strong>
\nThe beak should complement the shape of the head.
\nHead;<\/strong>
\nA broad, well rounded and well raised head, a prominent forehead, a well filled neck.
\nBody;<\/strong>
\nIn profile, the bird should be harmoniously rounded from below the throat to the lower belly. Similarly, a convex curve is sought from the base of the neck to the rump. Should stand well up on the perch at an angle of approximately 45o.
\nThighs;<\/strong>
\nNot visible.
\nWings;<\/strong>
\nClose to the body, covering the upper tail. Should not cross or hang.
\nTail;<\/em><\/strong>
\nRelatively short, tight and distinctly forked.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/lvbQDHuFCq2MET8GA_Kog0YL-zWM5hBURH29m4ziaieD7l2HdIbT7J5WXmjgIzLpr7FiqFVDyQG2Qt2lHyVDtWaH8T2KyzDU6iJjFTNB5x6CiKrDqZaULYLjLWxge3rWkcvK6YcpUE1-NqddBw\")
\nMALES:<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.hornemanni.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/P88A1102-Modifier-Modifier-300x300.jpg\")
\nBeak;<\/strong>
\nLight flesh colour.
\nEyes: Dark brown;<\/strong>
\nDark brown.
\nHead;<\/strong>
\nGreen forehead, dark lores.
\nLighter green brow line.
\nGreenish brown cap and nape.
\nThe moustache should be darker and more obvious. Grey ear patch.
\nBack;<\/strong>
\nGreenish brown with darker brown markings.
\nRump;<\/strong>
\nGreen, without contrast with the mantle.
\nThe upper tail should gradually turn from olive green to greyish brown.
\nLower belly;<\/strong>
\nThroat and chest should be a rich, bright green, as clear and solid as possible, blending into the yellow of the belly, with the white of the underbelly kept to a minimum.
\nThe yellow under tail gradually fades to olive green.
\nFlanks;<\/strong>
\nGreenish brown.
\nWings;<\/strong>
\nPrimary remiges – should show rich yellow bars, forming a long mark on the lower tip of the folded wing.
\nScapulars – green-brown, blending with the mantle.<\/span>
\nSecondary wing feathers – black with grey borders, wider and brownish on the tertials.
\nSmall upper wings – green.
\nMedium upper wings – olive green.
\nPrimary tectrices – brownish grey.
\nAlula – bright yellow.<\/p>\n
\nBlack showing bright yellow spots and a grey outer fringe.
\nThe feathers in the centre of the tail will be black with a green border.
\nLegs and toes;<\/strong>
\nFlesh colour.
\nNails;<\/strong>
\nDark flesh colour.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.hornemanni.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/P88A0932-Modifier-300x214.jpg\")
\nType;<\/strong>
\nSame as male
\nColour;<\/strong>
\nVivid brownish and greenish hues. The yellow of the wings and tail will not be as extensive as in the male.
\nBeak;<\/strong>
\nSame as the male
\nEyes;<\/strong>
\nSame as the male
\nHead;<\/strong>
\nBrown forehead tinged with green.
\nLighter supercilium.
\nCap and nape brown with darker markings.
\nThe moustache should be darker brown and clearly visible.
\nGrey ear patch.
\nBack;<\/strong>
\nBrown with darker markings. The markings on the back should be in line, tapering towards the head and reaching to the rump.
\nRump;<\/strong>
\nGreen, the upper tail olive green to brown.
\nLower belly;<\/strong>
\nThroat greyish brown with a green tinge.
\nThe chest should be a light brown with a green tinge with darker markings.
\nThe markings on the chest are broader and less obvious.
\nThe belly is green to white around the lower belly.
\nThe under tail is grey with a slight brown tinge.
\nFlanks;<\/strong>
\nBrown
\nWings;<\/strong>
\nScapulars – brown.<\/span>
\nPrimary remiges – blackish brown. A yellow border, thinner and less vivid than in the male.<\/span>
\nSecondary wing feathers – blackish brown with greyish-brown borders.<\/span>
\nSmall upper wings – olive green.<\/span>
\nMiddle upper wings – olive green to brown.<\/span>
\nPrimary tectrices – black with a green border.<\/span>
\nThe alule – blackish brown with a yellow border.<\/span>
\nTail;<\/strong>
\nBlack with yellow outer edge. The feathers in the centre of the tail will be blackish brown.
\nLegs and toes;<\/strong>
\nFlesh colour.
\nNails;<\/strong>
\nDark flesh colour.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.hornemanni.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/P88A0935-300x214.jpg\")
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\nNote on Size:<\/strong>
\nEven if larger specimens are preferred, size should not detract from the quality of colour and shape.
\nIf the standard encourages the largest possible size, selection could lead to the presence of many defects: plumage, reduced fertility, weakened immunity. No aviculturist should contemplate the perpetuation of such defects by breeding birds with these traits.
\nNote on Type:<\/strong>
\nThe head should not be angular or \u00ab\u00a0boxy\u00a0\u00bb. The forehead should be well defined, with a good rise from the upper mandible giving a well defined forehead. The skull should be broad in its upper roundness as well as towards the neck.
\nThe body should be compact and round giving a robust, rounded appearance.
\nNote on Colour and Markings:<\/strong>
\nMALES :<\/strong>
\nBrownish tints on the head, back and flanks will not be considered faulty, but the bird showing a brighter green will be considered superior.
\nSchimmel birds show less colour than intensive birds. It is therefore less easy for a schimmel to win than the best intensives, even if it turns out that the schimmel wins because of superiority of type and size.
\nNote on Colours and Markings :<\/strong>
\nFEMALES<\/strong>
\nThe white around the lower belly is more extensive than that of the male, often extending over the belly.
\nWell yellowed females will show plenty of colour on the chest and this, together with good performance in size and type, should lead to success. Schimmel females will often do better than yellows in their class but will be beaten by a yellow cock when it comes to competition for Best Greenfinch.
\nGeneral notes:<\/strong>
\nThe bird should show some pride and stand resolutely on its perch, staring out at its spectators.
\nIf the intensives and schimmel are judged to be of equal merit, the yellow wins the day. If, however, the already well-coloured schimmel is superior as a type, it takes precedence.
\nDEFECTS<\/strong>
\nFaults of the Type:<\/strong>
\nNarrow skull. Poorly placed eyes. Beak too large or too small.
\nEspecially to be avoided is a bird which presents the appearance of a straight line from the top of the head to the tail, a shape which is compared to \u00ab\u00a0a ski slope\u00a0\u00bb where the bird is \u00ab\u00a0long\u00a0\u00bb. This straight line can never allow for the rounded shape we’re looking for in this bird. Worse still: a hollow back.
\nDeformities, a pear-shaped bird, excess weight in the chest or lower abdomen resulting in poor posture. The bird should not be lying or crouching on the perch.
\nPoor wing carriage.
\nColour defects and markings:<\/strong>
\nMALES<\/strong>
\nColour impurities: discolouration or too much grey, leaving a too dark appearance.
\nBrown on chest and belly.
\nFEMALES<\/strong>
\nToo much white giving the impression of a pale bird.
\nGeneral faults :<\/strong>
\nA bird that presents itself weakly, not very erect, not confident.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.hornemanni.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/IMG_1133-copie-Modifier-200x300.jpg\")
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