Mesawdes Standards

Head: 15% Two main groups in this family. One possessing a long powerful head; the other short and noticeablly inclined down ward

Beak and beak settings: 15% medium to long and powerful beaks. A heavy cushion of feathers at the beak-frontal junction is responsible for a bulging in that area is noted in the short beaks. Blunt at the tip blending the beak to the frontal smoothly.

Wattle: 5% should be small, smooth, and free from any coarsens,

Eye and Eye cere: 10% Exceptionally wide, occupying more than half of the head. The Iris should reveal its peripheral net of blood vessels as the cere is slightly moved from one direction to another. The iris color is dark hazel. The eye cere is fine and neat in texture.

Neck: 5% stout as the bird viewed side ways with medium length because of the dense feathers in the back of the head.

Flights and tail: 10% Wing tips must be shorter than the tail and close to each other. Flights in many of these birds display themselves just below the tail but not permanently. The optimal number of flights is 10 white primaries. The tail coverts are also white and long enhancing the back length.

Legs and feet: 5% short and strong. Free from feathers below the hock. Toes are large and well spread apart with bright red colors.

Appearance: 15% the average length is about 12 inches from front of breast to tip of tail. Long and sloped body. The back is broad and steep (concave), showing no humps. This molding characterize many Egyptian Swifts.

Stance: 10% Bold with an upright but low station. The birds tend to set on their hinds (squat) as they become approached in their cage.

Colors: 10% Black birds except for the primaries and the tail. Some are black beetle sheen, but are dull black. The last color in this group is noted in the Mesawed Falahy, which expresses the rich black color with small white markings on the frontal, neck and abdomen. The Falahy has a long face.

Undesirable traits:
Loose feathers, which might be evidenced by droopy wings and fluffed feathers. Thick and coarse wattle and eye cere regardless to the age. Dip or gap between the frontal and the beak.

Disqualification:
any obvious cross breeding as indicated by unusual head shape and beak setting or odd colors.

References:
Translated from the book of standards 1996. ISBN 977-19-0924. Prepared for publication by Mohamed Gab Allah
Drawing by Dr Mohamed Khater
Other books used; the pigeon, by Levi
The international pigeon standards. 15th edition

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