List of Canary Breeds by Country

All types of canaries have their roots in the finches native to the Canary Islands. The birds were named after the islands and became a popular domestic pet in Europe around the 1400s. As canaries became more popular, so did canary breeding. Many types and subtypes of canaries exist, with many breeds associated with various countries.

  1. North America

    • Developed in the 1930s, the American Singer canary was developed by combining a mix of Roller and Border canary bloodlines. Frilled canaries are another well-known type in North America, although many breeds of frilled canaries exist. Two breeds, the Dutch Frill and Parisian Frill canaries, tend to be kept most often in the U.S. Another popular breed in North America is the Fife canary, which was bred in the U.S. in the 1980s.

    United Kingdom

    • Many types of canary are associated with the United Kingdom, although these breeds are usually older. The Border canary for example, was created during the 19th century between England and Scotland. On the other hand, the Yorkshire canary was created around the same time in Bradford and Yorkshire, England. These breeds are often the basis for other, more recent types of canaries.

    Rest of Europe

    • In other areas of Europe, canary breeds were also developed - for example, the Rollers canary originated in the Hartz Mountains of Germany in the late 1800s. The Waterslager canary on the other hand, originates in Belgium, while the Timbrado canary hails from Spain. A subtype of frilled canary, the Gibber, is a European breed of canary that was bred in Italy.

    Other

    • Some breeds are well known in one area but originated in another. For example, the Lizard canary is believed to have first appeared in France. The Lizard canary later became a popular breed in London and even spawned a closely related ̶0;London Fancy̶1; breed. The Roller canary was also well known in the U.S. during the late 1800s hundreds and early 1900s, despite its German origins.