Gamefowl and plumage
Every bird on 3dSabong.com is generated with a bloodline, a plumage, a build and a fighting style, the way a sabungero would describe a real gamecock.
Bloodlines
Most gamecocks in Philippine sabong descend from American fighting lines brought over in the 20th century, crossed and refined by local breeders. A few of the names you will see on the 3dSabong.com card:
- Kelso
- An American line, much imported into the Philippines; breeders know it as a thinking fighter that waits for its chance.
- Sweater
- An American line known for speed and an early, aggressive attack.
- Hatch
- A heavier, powerful line, known for strength in close fighting.
- Roundhead
- A pea-combed line, known for cleverness and footwork.
- Claret
- An older American line, prized for gameness.
- Asil
- An ancient breed from South Asia: tall, upright and heavily muscled, with very tight feathering.
- Lemon 84, Radio, Albany, Grey, Butcher, Brown Red, Whitehackle, McLean, Gold, Black Bonanza
- Other lines whose names a Philippine breeder will recognise, many of them crosses of the older American families.
What breeders say about a line is tradition and experience, not a rule: every bird is different, and on 3dSabong.com each bird's own build, stamina, heart and style matter more than its name.
Plumage names
Filipino sabungeros name a bird by its feathers. These are the plumage names used on 3dSabong.com, with the colouring our birds of that name show:
- Pula
- red, with bright orange hackles
- Mayahin
- deep crimson
- Alimbuyugin
- near-black, with dark red
- Dalusapi
- orange-gold, lemon-tipped
- Talisayin
- straw and silver
- Abuhin
- blue-grey
- Bulik
- barred, speckled grey and white
- Lasak
- splashed, mixed colours
- Hiraw
- pale silver
- Puti
- white
- Itim
- black, with a green sheen
- Kaki
- brown-red
Build and fighting style
Birds also differ in station (tall and leggy, medium, compact, or the upright Oriental type of the Asil) and in comb (single, pea, or dubbed). Each 3dSabong.com bird has one of four fighting styles: the flyer that attacks from the air, the cutter that fights close with its blade, the counter-fighter that waits and answers, and the brawler that keeps coming forward. Its strength, speed, stamina, agility and heart decide how well it carries that style out.