Abbreviations
-
- Sisal Slave
- Posts: 564
- Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2015 7:24 am
- Location: Campbellsville, KY
Abbreviations
I have feeling this is just my problem, but I'd like to hear from others about it:
Abbreviations make it difficult to learn about other breeds. There are many abbreviations in the Zebra world, the Gouldian world and others that are baffling to me. I'd like to learn about these breeds but I can't understand the lingo.
Since we're communicating with each other, how about making it a better conversation and spell out the words? More work for you, much better for everyone else.
Birds don't eat alphabet soup, and neither do I.
Thanks, I've wanted to say that for a long while
Abbreviations make it difficult to learn about other breeds. There are many abbreviations in the Zebra world, the Gouldian world and others that are baffling to me. I'd like to learn about these breeds but I can't understand the lingo.
Since we're communicating with each other, how about making it a better conversation and spell out the words? More work for you, much better for everyone else.
Birds don't eat alphabet soup, and neither do I.
Thanks, I've wanted to say that for a long while
Dave
Campbellsville, Kentucky, USA
Canaries
Campbellsville, Kentucky, USA
Canaries
- Babs _Owner
- Molting
- Posts: 4926
- Joined: Sat Aug 08, 2015 4:47 pm
- Location: Southeast USA
- Contact:
Re: Abbreviations
Dave
Can I high five you right now? ^5
I loathe acronyms. I read words, not 4 letter sentences!.
Example of how it frustrates me:
Were did you go to school?
"U.M"
What is U.M.?
"Thats the University of Michigan, dont you know that?
"
Uhhh, no.
UM could be Univ. of Michigan, Miami, Milwaukee, Minnesota, Memphis.......etc etc
.
When people throw acronyms at me, my mind thinks of 20 other meanings those letters may represent. So you are not alone.
Can I high five you right now? ^5
I loathe acronyms. I read words, not 4 letter sentences!.
Example of how it frustrates me:
Were did you go to school?
"U.M"
What is U.M.?
"Thats the University of Michigan, dont you know that?

Uhhh, no.


When people throw acronyms at me, my mind thinks of 20 other meanings those letters may represent. So you are not alone.
-
- Bird Brain
- Posts: 14789
- Joined: Fri Aug 28, 2009 7:30 am
- Location: WV
Re: Abbreviations
All you need to do is ask and any of the breeders would be more then happy to explain what they are saying. Gouldians I understand but zebra lingo I'm lost, though if I ever got into zebra's I would learn. 

Debbie
long time breeder of lady gouldians:
Green
SF Pastel (SF Yellow)
Pastel (Yellow)
Blue
SF Pastel Blue (SF Yellow Blue)
Pastel Blue (Yellow Blue)
GREAT articles on avian lighting:
https://mickaboo.org/confluence/downloa ... ummary.pdf
http://www.naturallighting.com/cart/sto ... sc_page=56
long time breeder of lady gouldians:
Green
SF Pastel (SF Yellow)
Pastel (Yellow)
Blue
SF Pastel Blue (SF Yellow Blue)
Pastel Blue (Yellow Blue)
GREAT articles on avian lighting:
https://mickaboo.org/confluence/downloa ... ummary.pdf
http://www.naturallighting.com/cart/sto ... sc_page=56
- cindy
- Bird Brain
- Posts: 18754
- Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:33 pm
- Location: west central Florida
Re: Abbreviations
My ZebraCheat sheet
NG is gray (base color)
RECESSIVE
OB is orange breast
BB is Black Breast
Pied
Penguin is P
White is W (not to be confused with pied white, totally different mutation)
YB is yellow beak
BC is black cheek
RS is recessive silver
E is Eumo
DOMINANT *note ~ you only need one in a pair to produce Visual offspring Can't be split to a dominant gene, either you see it visually or they are not it.
DS is Dominant Silver
FC is fawn cheek
GC is Grey cheek
BF is Black Face
CO-Dominant *note birds can be split to these (autosomal recessive mutation)
FF is Florida Fancy
FS is Florida silver
Sex-linked
F is fawn
LB is lightback
CFW is Chestnut flanked white (light tan to gray tail barring)
CCFW is Continental Chestnut flanked white (black tail bars)
NG is gray (base color)
RECESSIVE
OB is orange breast
BB is Black Breast
Pied
Penguin is P
White is W (not to be confused with pied white, totally different mutation)
YB is yellow beak
BC is black cheek
RS is recessive silver
E is Eumo
DOMINANT *note ~ you only need one in a pair to produce Visual offspring Can't be split to a dominant gene, either you see it visually or they are not it.
DS is Dominant Silver
FC is fawn cheek
GC is Grey cheek
BF is Black Face
CO-Dominant *note birds can be split to these (autosomal recessive mutation)
FF is Florida Fancy
FS is Florida silver
Sex-linked
F is fawn
LB is lightback
CFW is Chestnut flanked white (light tan to gray tail barring)
CCFW is Continental Chestnut flanked white (black tail bars)
Zebra, Gouldians, Java, CBM Shaft tail & Grasskeets
~ My Facebook groups ~
*Finchaholics ~ finches, hookbills, softbills & canaries are welcome here!
discussions regarding species, housing, breeding, preventatives, treatments
*Birdaholics ~ Avian Classified Ads Only
-
- Bird Brain
- Posts: 14789
- Joined: Fri Aug 28, 2009 7:30 am
- Location: WV
Re: Abbreviations
Gouldians are described by head color first then breast color then body color. I separate the areas by a "." And "/" means "split to"
So a RedHead.PurpleBreast.Green split to Blue would be RH.PB.Green/Blue
Males can be Single Factor or Double Factor which is written like this, SF or DF
So a RedHead.PurpleBreast.Single Factor Pastel split to Blue would look like this, RH.PB.SF Pastel/Blue
If there are any specific questions you have just shout.
So a RedHead.PurpleBreast.Green split to Blue would be RH.PB.Green/Blue
Males can be Single Factor or Double Factor which is written like this, SF or DF
So a RedHead.PurpleBreast.Single Factor Pastel split to Blue would look like this, RH.PB.SF Pastel/Blue
If there are any specific questions you have just shout.
Debbie
long time breeder of lady gouldians:
Green
SF Pastel (SF Yellow)
Pastel (Yellow)
Blue
SF Pastel Blue (SF Yellow Blue)
Pastel Blue (Yellow Blue)
GREAT articles on avian lighting:
https://mickaboo.org/confluence/downloa ... ummary.pdf
http://www.naturallighting.com/cart/sto ... sc_page=56
long time breeder of lady gouldians:
Green
SF Pastel (SF Yellow)
Pastel (Yellow)
Blue
SF Pastel Blue (SF Yellow Blue)
Pastel Blue (Yellow Blue)
GREAT articles on avian lighting:
https://mickaboo.org/confluence/downloa ... ummary.pdf
http://www.naturallighting.com/cart/sto ... sc_page=56
- finchboy
- Hatchling
- Posts: 53
- Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2015 10:49 pm
Re: Abbreviations
Would be helpful to make that sticky.
I Love Finches, Especially Strawberries.
I keep my Strawberry pair in a non-flight cage due to space constraints. If I have my way, I'll go for a flight cage or keep a hundred finches in a huge aviary.
I keep my Strawberry pair in a non-flight cage due to space constraints. If I have my way, I'll go for a flight cage or keep a hundred finches in a huge aviary.

- MariusStegmann
- Weaning
- Posts: 1726
- Joined: Wed Nov 16, 2011 12:20 pm
- Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Re: Abbreviations
If you talk waxbills then:
GB would be a Golden Breasted waxbill,
OC = orange cheeked waxbill
CB = cordon bleu waxbills - RCCB would be a red cheeked cordon bleu, BCCB would be a blue cap cordon bleu.
GB would be a Golden Breasted waxbill,
OC = orange cheeked waxbill
CB = cordon bleu waxbills - RCCB would be a red cheeked cordon bleu, BCCB would be a blue cap cordon bleu.
Marius

- lovezebs
- Mod Extraordinaire
- Posts: 18214
- Joined: Sun Dec 15, 2013 11:51 am
- Location: Calgary Alberta Canada
Re: Abbreviations
LOL = laugh out loud
JMO = just my opinion
BTW= by the way
The one that had me guessing > LMAO (laugh my ass off)
If one needs translations of bird abbreviations, as the breeders.
If one needs translations of daily comments, ask a teenager
.
JMO = just my opinion
BTW= by the way
The one that had me guessing > LMAO (laugh my ass off)

If one needs translations of bird abbreviations, as the breeders.
If one needs translations of daily comments, ask a teenager



~Elana~
Linnies~ Canaries ~ Zebras ~ Societies ~ Gouldians ~ Orange Cheeks ~ Shaft Tails ~ Strawberries ~ Red Cheek Cordon Bleu ~ Goldbreasts ~ Red Brows ~ Owls ~ Budgies ~ Diamond Firetails ~ Javas ~ Forbes Parrot Finches ~
Linnies~ Canaries ~ Zebras ~ Societies ~ Gouldians ~ Orange Cheeks ~ Shaft Tails ~ Strawberries ~ Red Cheek Cordon Bleu ~ Goldbreasts ~ Red Brows ~ Owls ~ Budgies ~ Diamond Firetails ~ Javas ~ Forbes Parrot Finches ~
- Sally
- Mod Extraordinaire
- Posts: 17929
- Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2007 11:55 pm
- Location: DFW, Texas
Re: Abbreviations
One of our former moderators decided one time she was going to make a post of all the abbreviations, but she found it to be a bigger task than she had realized. If anyone wants to come up with a post with all the bird abbreviations, I'd be happy to make it a sticky!
One more abbreviation for the Cordon Bleus:
BBCB - Blue-breasted Cordon Bleu
PG - Purple Grenadier
VE - Violet-eared Waxbill
RB Fire - Red-billed Fire finch
YBW - Yellow-bellied Waxbill
GBW - Green-backed Waxbill

One more abbreviation for the Cordon Bleus:
BBCB - Blue-breasted Cordon Bleu
PG - Purple Grenadier
VE - Violet-eared Waxbill
RB Fire - Red-billed Fire finch
YBW - Yellow-bellied Waxbill
GBW - Green-backed Waxbill
- lovezebs
- Mod Extraordinaire
- Posts: 18214
- Joined: Sun Dec 15, 2013 11:51 am
- Location: Calgary Alberta Canada
Re: Abbreviations
I think idealy, if we all make a bit of an effort, we could just type out the actual words (at least at the beginning of each post).
I mean if we mention 'Red Head /Purple Breast /Green Back', at the begining , then go on with-' RH/PB/GB',- for the rest of the post, its fairly self explanatory.
I mean if we mention 'Red Head /Purple Breast /Green Back', at the begining , then go on with-' RH/PB/GB',- for the rest of the post, its fairly self explanatory.
~Elana~
Linnies~ Canaries ~ Zebras ~ Societies ~ Gouldians ~ Orange Cheeks ~ Shaft Tails ~ Strawberries ~ Red Cheek Cordon Bleu ~ Goldbreasts ~ Red Brows ~ Owls ~ Budgies ~ Diamond Firetails ~ Javas ~ Forbes Parrot Finches ~
Linnies~ Canaries ~ Zebras ~ Societies ~ Gouldians ~ Orange Cheeks ~ Shaft Tails ~ Strawberries ~ Red Cheek Cordon Bleu ~ Goldbreasts ~ Red Brows ~ Owls ~ Budgies ~ Diamond Firetails ~ Javas ~ Forbes Parrot Finches ~
-
- Bird Brain
- Posts: 14789
- Joined: Fri Aug 28, 2009 7:30 am
- Location: WV
Re: Abbreviations
To me you just wrote Red Head split to Purple Breast split to Green body
if you use the "/" to separate the areas what will you use for "split to"? It could look like this if you add splits, RH/YH/PB/WB/Green/Blue and that would be very confusing

if you use the "/" to separate the areas what will you use for "split to"? It could look like this if you add splits, RH/YH/PB/WB/Green/Blue and that would be very confusing
Debbie
long time breeder of lady gouldians:
Green
SF Pastel (SF Yellow)
Pastel (Yellow)
Blue
SF Pastel Blue (SF Yellow Blue)
Pastel Blue (Yellow Blue)
GREAT articles on avian lighting:
https://mickaboo.org/confluence/downloa ... ummary.pdf
http://www.naturallighting.com/cart/sto ... sc_page=56
long time breeder of lady gouldians:
Green
SF Pastel (SF Yellow)
Pastel (Yellow)
Blue
SF Pastel Blue (SF Yellow Blue)
Pastel Blue (Yellow Blue)
GREAT articles on avian lighting:
https://mickaboo.org/confluence/downloa ... ummary.pdf
http://www.naturallighting.com/cart/sto ... sc_page=56
-
- 3 Eggs Laid
- Posts: 772
- Joined: Thu Nov 29, 2012 7:26 pm
- Location: Tempe arizona
Re: Abbreviations
Agree with Dave.
It is mostly laziness that prompts use of acronyms instead of lucid communication. The world of texting is destroying the language.
Elana has a sensible approach. Use words the first time, then go to acronyms.
It is mostly laziness that prompts use of acronyms instead of lucid communication. The world of texting is destroying the language.
Elana has a sensible approach. Use words the first time, then go to acronyms.
-
- Bird Brain
- Posts: 14789
- Joined: Fri Aug 28, 2009 7:30 am
- Location: WV
Re: Abbreviations
I agree with you when it comes to things like lol, BTW, jmo and even the names of the species of birds. I have a hard time keeping up with the thousands of acronyms.paul-inAZ wrote: Agree with Dave.
It is mostly laziness that prompts use of acronyms instead of lucid communication. The world of texting is destroying the language.
Elana has a sensible approach. Use words the first time, then go to acronyms.
As for genetic abbreviations I think they have their place and honestly I don't know any breeder that doesn't use them. For newbies we are all more then willing to clarify if asked till you become familiar with your species terms.
Debbie
long time breeder of lady gouldians:
Green
SF Pastel (SF Yellow)
Pastel (Yellow)
Blue
SF Pastel Blue (SF Yellow Blue)
Pastel Blue (Yellow Blue)
GREAT articles on avian lighting:
https://mickaboo.org/confluence/downloa ... ummary.pdf
http://www.naturallighting.com/cart/sto ... sc_page=56
long time breeder of lady gouldians:
Green
SF Pastel (SF Yellow)
Pastel (Yellow)
Blue
SF Pastel Blue (SF Yellow Blue)
Pastel Blue (Yellow Blue)
GREAT articles on avian lighting:
https://mickaboo.org/confluence/downloa ... ummary.pdf
http://www.naturallighting.com/cart/sto ... sc_page=56
- finchboy
- Hatchling
- Posts: 53
- Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2015 10:49 pm
Re: Abbreviations
I Love Finches, Especially Strawberries.
I keep my Strawberry pair in a non-flight cage due to space constraints. If I have my way, I'll go for a flight cage or keep a hundred finches in a huge aviary.
I keep my Strawberry pair in a non-flight cage due to space constraints. If I have my way, I'll go for a flight cage or keep a hundred finches in a huge aviary.

- lovezebs
- Mod Extraordinaire
- Posts: 18214
- Joined: Sun Dec 15, 2013 11:51 am
- Location: Calgary Alberta Canada
Re: Abbreviations
"To me you just wrote Red Head split to Purple Breast split to Green body
"
debbie276
Maybe that's what I meant, u-hem-hemmmm.....
Seriously though, that just goes to show how confooosing all this can get.....
However, if I say: Red Head Purple Breast Green Back, Gouldian Finch, everyone understands (I hope
).

debbie276
Maybe that's what I meant, u-hem-hemmmm.....

Seriously though, that just goes to show how confooosing all this can get.....
However, if I say: Red Head Purple Breast Green Back, Gouldian Finch, everyone understands (I hope

~Elana~
Linnies~ Canaries ~ Zebras ~ Societies ~ Gouldians ~ Orange Cheeks ~ Shaft Tails ~ Strawberries ~ Red Cheek Cordon Bleu ~ Goldbreasts ~ Red Brows ~ Owls ~ Budgies ~ Diamond Firetails ~ Javas ~ Forbes Parrot Finches ~
Linnies~ Canaries ~ Zebras ~ Societies ~ Gouldians ~ Orange Cheeks ~ Shaft Tails ~ Strawberries ~ Red Cheek Cordon Bleu ~ Goldbreasts ~ Red Brows ~ Owls ~ Budgies ~ Diamond Firetails ~ Javas ~ Forbes Parrot Finches ~