Overall Impression: The Flying Oriental Roller is primarily an aerial performer and must be in flying condition in the show cage. The bird should feel compact, hard, tight feathered and should convey the impression of physical strength and stamina. The Flying Oriental Roller's personality is bold, showing complete confidence in its ability.
Head: The head should be oval shaped from the side and round when viewed from the front. Not flat on top. Aerodynamic without excessive frontal or back skull and of proper size to compliment the bird's body.
Eyes: Pearl (bull in whites are acceptable) with a small pupil, the eye should be positioned slightly forward with the ceres to be unobtrusive (thin) and flesh colored. The overall impression being intelligent and confident.
Beak: Medium long in length, strong at the base with the wattle of a fine texture but showing some substance. The width should be one third the length. Flesh colored (clear) beaks are preferred in all colors, a stained strip or tip on the upper mandible is permissible in blue series birds. Black, Blue (T-pattern, Checker, Bar and Barless).
Neck: Medium in length, rising evenly from the body, becoming thinner towards the throat, with the throat rising to an arch under the beak, with no dewlap.
Breast: The breast should feel solid in the hand and be of medium width, the feathers covering the wing butts, with a medium depth keel curving towards a tight vent.
Back: Short and flexible, wide at the shoulders sloping slightly towards the tail. The cushion as wide as the tail base and no oil gland.
Legs/Feet: The legs should be medium in length and bright red in color. The stance poised, ready for flight. The toe nails should match the color of the beak.
Wings: Carried below the tail giving the appearance of being loosely closed. They should not touch the ground. The flights should be long and show a slight curve or sickle shape (slightly bowed) pointed at the tip. The secondaries should be strong, interlocking with the webs dragging against each other when spread apart, showing no gaps between the feathers.
Tail: The tail should be elevated slightly above the horizontal plane and be one half to three quarters of an inch longer than the flights. There should be 14 or more feathers in a single row tightly packed with a slight arch. Split or double feathers are allowed in the middle of the tail only. There should be no gap or fork in the middle of the tail. The tail may flare out from the cushion, but only slightly.
Body/Size: The bird should be slightly long in length, the cocks should be medium in size weighing twelve to fourteen ounces and the hens a little less.
Colors: All colors are acceptable, they should be as intense as possible. Almonds and Grizzles are to be considered as solid colored birds. Blue series, T-pattern, Checkers, Bars or Barless should be considered in the same class. The same for the Ash Red and Brown series. White patterned birds, if allowed, should be considered as AOC (Any Other Combination) and not eligible for Champion status. AOC would be any color and White (Baldhead, Badge, Beard, Whiteside, Saddle, Monk, Priest, Gazzie or any other known combination.)
Major Faults: Less than 14 tail feathers. Too many feathers in the tail can cause the tail to have a "fantail" or "scooped" look, this is a serious fault. More than a single row of tail feathers. Wings carried above the tail. Other than pearl eyes. Black beaks. Presence of an oil gland. Forked tail. Obvious out crosses. A bird that obviously can't fly.
Minor Faults: Crouching or slack poise. Long back. Crooked keel.
Loose vent. Loose feathered. Feather lice or mite holes. Frightened or
dumb looking. Dull color. Overly fuzzy bars or checks that lack definition.
Black toe nails. Too much flare to the tail, too many feathers in the tail
can cause the tail to have a "fantail" like appearance and that is a serious
fault. Tail held too high. Out of condition.