{{short description|Breed of domestic canary}} thumb|A female red factor canary The '''red factor canary'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.canaryadvisor.com/red-factor-canary.html|title=The Red Factor Canary.|website=www.canaryadvisor.com|access-date=2008-08-11|archive-date=2008-08-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080818232351/http://www.canaryadvisor.com/red-factor-canary.html|url-status=live}}</ref> is a variety of domestic canary, named after its colorful plumage. It is a bird commonly kept as a pet and for showing.
==Description== The red factor canary averages about {{convert|5+1/2|in|cm}} in length. This variety of canary tends to be bred for the novelty of its color, rather than for its song.
It was developed as a cross between another type of finch — the now-endangered Venezuelan red siskin (''Spinus cucullatus'') — and a yellow domestic canary (''Serinus canaria'' ''domestica''). <ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.jci.org/articles/view/21127|title=A brand-new bird: how two amateur scientists created the first genetically engineered animal|first=Steve|last=Goldman|date=February 15, 2004|journal=The Journal of Clinical Investigation|volume=113|issue=4|pages=495–495|via=www.jci.org|doi=10.1172/JCI21127|doi-access=free|pmc=338274|access-date=June 28, 2024|archive-date=June 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240615061045/https://www.jci.org/articles/view/21127|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=canariasacross |date=2023-12-06 |title=Discover the Fascinating World of Domestic Canaries and Their Unique Characteristics |url=https://canariasacross.com/blog/discover-the-fascinating-world-of-domestic-canaries-and-their-unique-characteristics |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=Canary Islands, Spain |language=en-US}}</ref>
In breeding/showing, domestic canaries are broken down into two types based on pigmentation: melanics<ref>{{Cite web |last=Culture |first=Canary |date=2023-11-30 |title=Understanding Classic Melanic Canaries |url=https://www.canaryculture.com/post/understanding-classic-melanics |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=Canary Culture |language=en}}</ref> and lipochromes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Culture |first=Canary |date=2023-10-18 |title=Understanding Lipochrome Canaries |url=https://www.canaryculture.com/post/understanding-lipochrome-canaries |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=Canary Culture |language=en}}</ref> Melanics contain melanin markings over top of lipochromes in their feathers, while lipochrome canaries have feathers that contain no melanin in their pigmentation. The red factor canary is classified as a lipochrome.
There are two types of red factor canaries based on the lipochrome distribution in their plumage: intensive red factors and non-intensive red factors. Intensive red factors are characterized by even lipochrome distribution throughout their feathers, giving the plumage a bright and uniform appearance throughout. Birds with non-intensive coloration have feathers that lack pigmentation at the tips — referred to as frosting due to the appearance — this makes for a more subdued brightness in appearance than birds with intensive coloration.
== Availability == Red factor canaries are usually available at most pet stores and can also be found through bird shows, bird clubs, breeders and on the internet.
==See also== * Atlantic canary (wild canary) * Australian plainhead * Harz Roller
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Serinus Category:Bird breeds