The Rzhevski Startailed Turmani : Gem
of the Russias
By
K. D. Spurling (1998) Perhaps
of Russia's over 170 races of Domestic Pigeons, the Rzhev Startailed
Turmans are the best known and most popular throughout the world. With
enthusiastic breeders in Russia, Poland, Romania, Germany, Holland,
Britain and the United States; it is easily one of the most famous of rare
varieties. The
Rzhev Startail is named for the city of Rzhev, which is located
approximately 75 miles north of Mocsow. Together with Kaluga and Tula,
they form a semi circle around Moscow; and it is here in these four cities
that exist the very heartland of Turman culture in the world. It is said
that the first Turmans actually came to Moscow as the spoils of defeated
Turkish held cities in the Ukrain during the reign of Princess Olga of
Moscow. (About 940 AD.). This original ancestor is said to have been
obtained by the Turks in what is today Afghanistan and they are generally
referred to as "Turmani Afghan". Likely, this original breed has
become extinct as it has not yet been located in Afghanistan, Turkey or
other parts of the Middle East and because of this, we have no genuine
proof that the original birds came from any part of the Middle East
regions. The
Rzhev Startails are vivid and delicate pigeons of a shy temperment, about
the size of a Birmingham Roller. The head is nearly square in shape with
rounded edges and a high and steeply rising frontal. The birds may be
plainheaded, but lesser known are the shell crested specimens as seen in
the accompanying figure which was reproduced from Russian literature. The
cere is fine and pale in color, surrounding large expressive bull eyes.
The beak is blunt, medium short in length and set somewhat down-faced. The
neck is of medium length and tapers towards the shoulders and flows into
the long, sweeping back. The tail is long and slightly fanned, consisting
of 12 to 14 retrices, and slightly elevated. The wings are carried below
the tail, but must not touch the floor. The toes are short and thick and
always free of plumage. Historically,
the Rzhev Startails come in Red and Yellow. However, in the Russian way of
thinking, this is not correct. In Russia, only the reds would be
considered Rzhev Turmani. This is easily proven just by translating the
Russian name: "Rzhevski Krasno Pegije Turmani' (Rzhev Red Pegije
Turman). Yellow birds of this style do exist, but in Russia these birds
are known as "Morshanski Schulto Pegije Turmani" (Morshank
Yellow) and are considered a seperate, but closely allied breed. The red
should be as shiny and brilliant as possible, and among all races of
pigeons no other red pigeon can equal the color quality of an excellant
Turman. Some Turmans maintain such rich, even and out-right awesome red
plumage that in photos or from a short distance they may appear black. The
type of red plumage the Turmans have is a refined Ash Red with Lebanon
Bronzing. If
producing the ideal Rzhevski type and color quality were not difficult
enough, we also add to this the vibrant and flashy markings. The marking
is called "Pegije" and is similiar to the Magpie and Gansel
markings seen in other races of tumblers. The difference between it and
the other two is manifested in the head markings. White is a circle around
the eyes, the cheeks and a small beard upon the head. The head marking is
generally referred to as the mask, and it is my opinion that these head
markings are genetically of the same type as the Aachen Band Croppers.
Also white are the wings (save shoulders), the belly, thighs and a white
band in the tail. Colored is the rest of the head, neck, breast, back,
rump, shoulders, support feathers (so called "wedge"), vent
fluff and tail up to the white band. The tip of the tail is also edged in
color. Great troubles have been had in producing good markings, even if a
fancier owns a very good stude Many birds have troubles with white or mix
colored backs and also support feathers. These are severely faulty, even
tho markings are not of primary importance. However, 99% of all birds have
troubles with the facial markings even in the best lofts. I have seen many
that are near perfection on one side, only to less than acceptable on the
other eye. I have bred over 300 breeds of Pigeons and nowhere else in the
pigeon world have I discovered a breed with a more difficult marking. I
have heard hundreds of fanciers claim that their breed represents the
ultimate challenge of pigeon breeding. I have to smile a bit at them, for
I have seen dozens of very experienced and very successful fanciers of
other marked pigeons try and quickly fail with Rzhev even tho they began
with excellent birds. I have heard it said that the breeder of marked
pigeons "must be a glutton for punishment" and if this is true,
then we Turman breeders must be the worst kind of mental masochists to
year after year strive for perfection and year after year just fall short.
However,
this is not to say that good Turmans represent an impossibility. I myself
have been more than pleased with my own successes. In 1995, my late
partner Gary Blain and I bred a hen that in back to back shows won Grand
Champion Rare Breed under very strict competition,. and no other member of
the breed had ever won a Grand Champion Rare in the U.S.A .over its 30
year history in the United States. 1997 was a banner year in breeding and
I produced three that came very close. In Feb.'98, one hen took Res. Grand
Champion SE-Russian at a California State meet, only to lose out to one of
my Kazans. (The Kazan also went Grand Champion Rare and Best In Show of
all variety under John Heppner as judge). In June '98 this same hen also
took Grand Champion SE-Russian at another California State meet. Also in
June, her full brother won Res. Grand Champion Rare at a California Stat.
RBPC meet. Then in Noveuber, another cock took Best Rzhev in a tough and
large class for the breed and also Grand Champion at Western Regional meet
here in Southwest Oregon - which was a record breaker in size. So despite
the great difficulties, it is possible to be heavily competitive with the
breed. The greatest advice I can give to a fancier is to study the breed
and its official standard, seek out the best stock, breed best to best,
linebreed around your best, cull ruthlessly, work with only the best and
keep the stud small and lastly, to have patience. A
question that I am very often asked is: "Do they fly?". Indeed
they fly, and they fly better than most rare breeds. In fact, their
history in the air is legend around Moscow. These pigeons were flown in
three birds kits from small wooden boxes to the upper altitudes for 4 to 7
hours. The birds should be flown in this fashion and managed strictly. In
some American and German literature the birds are regarded as tumblers and
I have seen some that will tumble. However, this is not aspired for in
Moscow and the surroundings - the heartland of Turman breeding. By the old
and true ideal set forth by the old Turman breeders, the birds should fly
well in loose kits; gliding, soaring, wing clapping. Most importantly, the
birds are to hover in one spot and flashing their vibrantly marked tails
in play to please the eyes of onlookers. And is this not something of
which the old Moscow breeders can be proud? Something
like a traditional mark: "Made In Russia."
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