Types of Canaries

A canary is a cage bird that belongs to the ploceidae family. The bird is thought to have descended from the wild serin finch or Serinus canarius, a type of bird found in the Canary Islands, Madeira and the Azores. Some distinct types of canaries are the Spanish Timbrado, American Singer Canary, Norwich Canary, Lizard Canary and the Cinnamon Canary.

  1. Spanish Timbrado

    • The Spanish Timbrado was bred in Spain in the 1940s to have a distinct song voice similar to that of the "Canario del Pais"--or Country Canary. This type of canary has a wide chest and large, round head; its song is made up of loud, cheery chattering.

    American Singer Canary

    • The American Singer Canary was first bred by a group of women in Massachusetts to produce melodious songs of rolled, chopped tones. These small birds come in a number of colors, including yellow, white, orange, green and blue and grow to up to 5¾ inches long.

    Norwich Canary

    • Brought to Norwich about 300 years ago by Flemish people, the Norwich Canary was bred in the 1800s to have the physical qualities it now features, including a thick neck, puffy feathers and a large head.

    Lizard Canary

    • The Lizard Canary is defined by its scale-like feathers and black crested spots on its back and breast, which give it an appearance similar to that of a reptile. The type of Lizard Canary that exists today was first bred in France in the 1700s.

    Cinnamon Canary

    • The Cinnamon Canary is a mutation of wild birds that existed in Spain; it was first bred in England in the 19th century. It is known for its plumage of smooth feathers. The ideal variety of this bird has a dark red-brown plumage if it is yellow or pink and brown feathers if it is a buff color.