Internal Regulations (2026)


It specifically regulates the organization, functions, and professional conduct of NBJA National USA Judges, and its authority is limited to NBJA USA.

NBJA National College of Judges – COM-US

American Federation of Ornithology (AFO)

In accordance with the principles of the World Ornithological Confederation (COM) and the World Order of Judges (OMJ).

ARTICLE 1 — NATURE

The NBJA National College of Judges is the technical body responsible for:

  • the training of judges
  • the supervision of judging activities
  • the technical development of ornithological specialties in the United States The College operates within the national organization (AFO) affiliated with COM International, and in harmony with the standards of the OMJ.

ARTICLE 2 — INSTITUTIONAL RELATIONSHIP

The College of Judges:

  • recognizes the technical authority of the OMJ
  • acts as a technical body within AFO–COM-US
  • cooperates with national clubs in the development of competitions, the training of breeders, and the education of judges.

ARTICLE 3 — PRINCIPLES

The College is governed by the following principles:

  • technical rigor
  • impartiality
  • uniformity in judging
  • professional ethics
  • cooperation between specialties

ARTICLE 4 — EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The Executive Committee is the governing body of the College and is composed of five members from different specialties.

Its main functions are:

Direct the technical activities of the College.
Coordinate the training and evaluation of breeders and judges.
Maintain national records of active judges and participants in the country.
Supervise the application of technical standards and regulations.
Represent the College before the national organization AFO and the OMJ.

“No Politics, no external discussions, only technical work”

ARTICLE 5 — STRUCTURE OF THE COLLEGE

The College is composed of:
Executive Committee

  • General Director
  • Technical Coordinator
  • Training Manager

Technical Section Coordinators are organized into six sections:

  • Songbird (SECTION A-B-C – CANARIS, COM)
  • Colorbred
  • Posture
  • Psittacidae
  • Agapornis
  • Exotic

Each section will have a Technical Manager.

Assembly of Judges (Candidates, National Judges, and OMJ Judges)

Due to the limited number of judges in the country, members of the Executive Committee may simultaneously perform executive duties and section responsibilities.

ARTICLE 6 — RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

Executive Committee members duty:

General Director

  • Always ensure the system functions correctly technically, ethically and institutionally

Core duties

  1. Maintain system integrity
  2. Enforce Rules
  3. Evaluate judges Performance
  4. Guarantee Fair Judging
  5. Safeguard Ethics
  6. Ensure Proper Training
  7. Maintain Operational Control
  8. Protect Institutional Stability

Technical Coordinator

  • Ensure that judges perform correctly, standards are applied and breeders are systematically training.

Core duties

  1. Execute the Technical System
  2. Design Technical Content
  3. Coordinate Competitions
  4. Maintain Technical Consistency
  5. Report and Advice to General Director
  6. Record Judges annual activations
  7. Conference Calendar breeders’ education

Training Manager

  • Deliver structured, consistent and measurable training for judges and trainees

Core Duties

  1. Deliver training Program
  2. Manage Learning Process
  3. Apply Teaching Standards
  4. Coordinator school class scheduleEach section is divided into three technical subcategories.
  5. Coordinate Instructors
  6. Report results to Technical Coordinator and DirectorSONG SECTION
  7. Support System Development (Platform)- Harz Roller

ARTICLE 7 - SUBCATEGORIES

Each Technical section is divided into subcategories (INSIDE).

SONGBIRD SECTION (SECTION A-B-C – CANARIS, COM)

  • Hartz Roller
  • Waterslager / Malinois
  • Other Song Breeds

COLORBRED SECTION

  • Lipochrome
  • Melanin
  • New Color Varieties

POSTURE SECTION

  • Form and posture
  • Frilled feather
  • Smooth feather

PSITTACINE SECTION

  • Small Psittacine (Parakeets and Parrotlets)
  • Medium/Large Psittacine (Parakeets and Parrots)
  • Large Psittacine (Macaws and Cockatoos etc…)

LOVEBIRDS SECTION

  • Roseicollis
  • Personatus
  • Lilianae
  • Fisheri
  • Nigrigenis
  • Taranta
  • Pullarius
  • Canus
  • Swindernianus

EXOTICS SECTION

  • Hybrids
  • Finches
  • Other species (including pigeons and related birds)

ARTICLE 8 — JUDGES TRAINING SCHOOL

The College will establish a permanent training program called the Judges School.

Its objectives are:
Train new national judges.
Update the technical knowledge of active judges.
Promote uniform judging criteria.
Provide training for breeders and clubs regarding technical updates or questions.
Training activities may include:
Planned technical seminars.
Judging practice sessions
Technical lectures or debates
Theoretical and practical evaluations

ARTICLE 9 — NATIONAL REGISTER OF JUDGES

The College will maintain a National Register of Judges, which will include:

  • judge’s name
  • specialty
  • category (National, National Advanced (greater than or equal to 8 years), or OMJ)
  • activity status

This register will be updated periodically and may be communicated to AFO or the OMJ when required.

ARTICLE 10 — JUDGE ETHICS

Every judge must act with:

  • impartiality
  • independence
  • respect for official standards

A judge may not judge their own birds or those of immediate family members, nor make public negative comments about another judge, including on social media.

Ethical Declaration

  1. We condemn all kinds of disrespectful messages.
  2. We don’t manipulate the fanciers.
  3. We don’t get involved in external discussions.
  4. We don’t spread fake news
  5. We do not use false or inactive accreditations.
  6. We do not intervene in any other foreign college or institution without a prior agreement and written documentation.
  7. All content from our school will be technical, truthful & transparent.

ARTICLE 11 — MEETINGS

The College will hold at least two technical meetings per year:

  • one after the Northern Hemisphere World Championship
  • another before the beginning of the competition season

These meetings will be held to:

  • review judging criteria
  • coordinate judge training
  • analyze the technical development of the specialties

ARTICLE 12 — FINAL PROVISION

These regulations shall enter into force after approval by the Assembly of the NBJA National College of Judges and subsequent ratification by the COM-US (AFO) board, as the sole institution affiliated with COM-World.

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OFFICIAL DOCUMENT OF THE NATIONAL BIRD JUDGES ASSOCIATION NBJA (Approved Wednesday, April 29, 2026)