Norwich Canary

History
The Norwich canary originated in Norwich in East England and it's forbears go back to the sixteenth century canaries which were kept by weavers and textile workers who came from the Low Countries and northern France. It was kept in cottages and was developed for color - presumably it was originally kept for it's song - but color became an important priority to those who kept Norwich. It seems to have been bred with early Lizard canaries to help with color.

The canary became socially very prized when Georgian grandees gave it the 'thumbs up' as an establishment accessory. In  the 1800s the birds were fed a variety of things at molting time to create deeper color such as nasturtium, beet root, port wine, cochineal, turmeric, then birds from Sutton in Ashfield started showing wonderful color which created suspicion for a while among fanciers. Gradually birds of the new color appeared at big shows as well as at smaller shows and the secret of red cayenne pepper was out! Color was then added at the molt. But the craze for size was going on also. Men were breeding larger and larger birds using Crest and Lancashire breeds - the fashion caught on and large feathered birds started winning. In 1890 at a conference at the Crystal Palace it was decided that a tidier more compact type of bird should be kept and shown.  This has been the case ever since, although the coarse birds still put in many appearances during the next century.

The model has been altered several times in the twentieth century until today we have a bird that is much rounder, colored now  with pepper as well as other substances and carries a beautiful coat of short fine feathers - a difficult thing to achieve indeed! It has been out crossed and used for muleing but the pure Norwich is still the main aim of Norwich breeders in the twentieth first century.

References - Norwich Canaries - C A House & A W Smith The Norwich Canary - K W Grigg & James Blake
Canaries, Hybrids & British Birds - Robson & Lewer
Picture shows a Norwich size comparison to a Red Factor

size_comp.jpg (54249 bytes)

THE STANDARD WITH POINTS

TYPE Short and cobby. Back broad and well filled-in, showing a slight rise transversely. Chest broad and deep, giving an expansive curved front, and sweeping under there from in one full curve to the tail. Ideal length 6-61/4 inches. Stance or position at about an angle of 45 degrees.
25
HEAD Proportionately bold, and assertive in its carriage. A full forehead rising from a short, neat beak. To be well rounded over and across the skull. Cheeks full and clear featured, eye to be well placed and discernible.
10
NECK Short and thick, continuing the run from the back of the skull onto the shoulders, and from a full throat into the breast. 
10
WINGS  Short and well braced, meeting nicely at the tips, to rest lightly yet closely on the rump. 
10
TAIL Short, closely packed and well filled-in at the root. Rigidly carried, giving an all-of-one appearance with the body.
5
LEGS AND FEET Well set back. Feet perfect.
5
CONDITION In full bloom of perfect health. Bold, bouncing movement. 
10
QUALITY OF FEATHER Close and fine in texture, presenting the smooth, silky plumage necessary to give a clean-cut contour. 
10
COLOR Rich, bright and level throughout, with sheen of brilliancy. Yellows a deep orange. Buffs rich in ground color and well mealed. 
10
STAGING Clean, and correctly staged.
5
TOTAL
100