Aria From A Birdcage

The American Singer canary is a breed of song canary developed in the United States.  By using a systematic plan of blending the Roller canary to the Border Fancy canary (canaries with different and distinct songs) over a period of years, the American Singer canary was produced... a new breed that had an outstanding free harmonious song that was pleasing to the ear, not too harsh, with plenty of variety and in a physical form that had a beautiful shape and size, with tight feathers that would please the average pet owner and lover of canaries.

The American Singers Club was founded in 1934 in Milton, Massachusetts by a group of eight women canary breeders.  The first birds of this breed were exhibited in the Boston show of that year.  The name "American Singer" was adopted for this new breed by vote of the members after this first show.  

Membership in the American Singers Club is limited to breeders, owners of canaries bred for the home, and folks that are interested in American Singer canaries.  Every member must abide by the club's Constitution and Bylaws, breed to the accepted standard model and method of breeding, endeavor to improve the song, and promote the advancement of the American Singers Club by creating good will and friendship among members and bird breeders.   For more information about the American Singers Club, visit their website at www.americansingercanary.org.

For those interested in showing their birds in competitions, American Singers are judged for song with freedom first, then type or conformation, then condition.  The color of the bird comes under conformation but does not score in the total 20 points.   It is important to train the birds so they will perform their best before the Judges.  American Singers must be trained to stage well, plus be trained to sing as soon as their cages are uncovered.  This means competitors must have a training system that will dispel fear so our American Singer will be fearless and confident, and sing within ten minutes after they are moved from the holding room to the show bench in the judging room. 

All American Singer birds must be banded with American Singer closed leg bands.   The band is engraved with the initials "ASC", which stands for American Singers Club.  The year the bird was hatched and the bird's individual registration number is also engraved on the band.    Each year, a different color of band is used, which also helps to quickly identify a bird's year of hatching without having to catch the bird to look at the engraving.

The bands are not only for the breeder's protection but serve as additional proof that the birds are as represented, bred by the plan and are indeed American Singers.  The band is slipped over the foot and onto the leg of a baby bird, usually when they are about seven days old.  The band cannot be put on mature birds because their foot is too large to go through the tiny opening in the band.