In the Trumpeter we have a curious variety of pigeon, distinguished by the peculiar sound of it's voice. The Germans call it the drummer and the English and Americans the trumpeter. Originally the Trumpeter came from Bokhara in Central Asia, by way of Russia, where it is still extensively bred, which probably accounts for the fact that it was named Russian Trumpeter. Essentially a squatty, close but soft-feathered bird, the Bokhara or Russian Trumpeter has a large body, short neck, well developed shoulders, and long flights. Its crouching body stands on short legs, with the head carried rather low in order to show the perfectly round rose on top of it. Frequently, the Trumpeter gropes around from place to place, unable to see except in a downward direction, and is fond of retiring into corners where it drums to its mate.

The Trumpeter is bred mainly for its feather qualities. First of all, there is the rose, about the size of a half-dollar piece, which should be very compactly and firmly feathered. Moreover, it should radiate from the center of the skull and fall away gracefully over the beak and the sides of the head. The shell crest, standing erect, should be thick and deep, encompassing the back of the head from ear to ear.

The Trumpeter's boots - its foot and hock feathers - should be long, frequently exceeding eight to ten inches, profuse, and evenly spread, with the outer feathers forming a semi-circle. Broken muffs or broken feathers on any portion of the pigeon's body are regarded as a serious defect.
White eyes are preferred in the Trumpeter. Comments Pruetz, well known German authority: "The fine pearl eyes betray the noble race which exacts admiration from every fancier."

Some believe the Trumpeter's voice has not been developed to any marked extent, which is very regrettable, for the peculiar cooing is the most charming quality of this pigeon. For good and proper drumming, there are necessary, according to Neumeister and Pruetz, "a good beginning, a distinctly marked delivery, and an alternate rise and fall of the sound, trilling and sustaining." The more continuously the Trumpeter drums in the approved style, the more valuable bird he is. Some males, with brief interruptions, have been known to trumpet for as long as ten minutes. Even when eating they will trumpet, there being no difference in the sound when the crop is full or empty. The hen likewise trumpets, though much more softly than the male, and less often. When the breeding season begins, many Trumpeter fanciers clip the rose, the foot feathers, as well as the long feathers around the vent to ensure fertile and unbroken eggs.