Azrak Katifa (Blue Velvet) Standards

Head: 20% Medium size with prominent and round frontal. The frontal is broad and full. The frontal gradually slopes down and looses its roundness. TheTop of the skull is rather flat.

Beak and beak settings: 10% Narrow, short and pinched at the tip. In that the upper mandible is pinched and fine at both ends and with substance in the middle. It has a triangular shape as looked upon from the top. A protruded frontal forms an obtuse angle (open angle) as it meets the beak.

Wattle Size: 5% Smooth and small.

Eye and Eye cere: 10% Large, wide and alert eyes with dark orange Iris. The inner lining of the Iris that surrounds the pupil has an orange color.The eye cere is fine and neat in texture.

Neck: 5% stout and short, blending tightly with a long concave back and a broad chest. The back of the neck is arched and rich in feathers.

Flights and tail: 5% folding and resting above the tail. Seldom display below the tail.

Legs and feet: 5% Short and Large and free from feathers below the hock. Toes are well spread apart with bright red colors.

Appearance 15% long body with short legs. The back is broad and straight, showing no humps. They have an erected stance but low station. The skeleton system of this group is strong as it reflects on the entire bird.

Size: 5% the average length is about 12 inches from front of breast to tip of tail. They average 12.5 Ounces (350 Grams or 3/4 of a pound) contrasting them with the small Rehani group

Color: 20% A rich golden feathers (diluted bronze) covers the throat and extending to the chest and the mane area. Streaks of this color extends covering the entire body except the tail.

Comment : This group is a separate group from the rehani group despite some color similarity. This group is muscular and geared for flying, unlike those of the Rehanis. It is commonly mixed with the Rehanis by inexperienced fanciers leeding to the loss of both groups.

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, Levi The international pigeon standards. 15th edition