Maltese pigeon is one of the largest and longest-legged breeds of domestic pigeons. A typical giant decorative pigeon with a pronounced "horse" or "deer" silhouette. Male weight 750–950 g, females 650–850 g. Body length 380–460 mm, height at withers 280–340 mm. Distinguished by extremely long thin legs (tarsus 95–125 mm), very long vertically set "swan" neck (110–140 mm) with slight S-shaped curvature, small elongated dry head, long wings, the ends of which are lowered below the level of the tail and almost touch the ground. The body is long, narrow, strongly raised. Absence of any decorations (crest, feathering). Acceptable colors: pure white, black, blue, red, yellow, ash gray. The standard requires: leg length ≥1/3 of the bird's height, neck length ≈ body length, vertical neck posture. Disqualifying defects: short legs (<90 mm), short neck, wide body or tail, presence of feathering, humped back.