Melanins

The wild canary, the ancestor of modern day canaries possessed the following color scheme; black eumelanin striations on yellow lipochrome overlaid with phaeomelanin.

Eumelanins - can go from black to the lightest grey and from chocolate brown to the lightest beige. It appears in the form of striation and dispersed (misted )over the body. Melanin color has suffered changes by mutations (deletion, dilution, transformation, oxidation)

Phaeomelanin - is the reddish brown pigment that appears bordering the feathers, the eumelanin striation and it is also found dispersed and sedimented over the ground color, its degree of presence will determine the degree of refraction present (optical blue factor). The eradication of phaeomelanin makes the subject look cleaner and lets the lipochrome in-between show itself brighter because the refraction factor is exposed by the degree in which phaeomelanin is eliminated. It is the pigment that breeders want to outbreed from all subjects except the Phaeos. To better comprehend this pigment you should observe a Phaeo canary, these birds have mutated to show only phaeomelanin color therefore the central eumelanin striation is deleted. By programmed selection and crossing this factor has been brought to its maximum expression, in other words it has been inbred to maximize its show quality.

Remember that Phaeomelanin:

· is an independent allele that may or may not be present

· it is more noticeable in females and frosted birds

· its degree of manifestation determines the degree of optical blue factor

· it is only desirable in Phaeos and carriers of the factor

· it makes the striation design appear duller

THE CLASSIC MELANINS

BLACK SERIES - maximum oxidation and melanization, black, long continuous eumelanin striation starting narrow at the base of the beak that widen as they progress to the mantle, flanks and to some degree to the chest. When you view the bird there should be an almost equal balance between the striation and the in-between spaces. Dark or black beak, feet and nails, black underflue .Balanced suffusion of dispersed black melanin throughout the body. Maximum absence of phaeomelanin.

BROWN SERIES - maximum oxidation, melanization is complete but under toned by mutation to a chocolate brown, wide, long and continuous striation starting narrow on the head, widening to the mantle, flanks and to some degree to the chest area. When you view the bird there should be an almost equal balance between striation and spaces in-between striation with a medium to heavy suffusion of brown dispersed melanin throughout the body. Tanned beak, feet and nails. Ash brown underflue. Maximum absence of phaeomelanin required.

AGATE SERIES - on the Agate melanization is reduced, it is the diluted version of the Black. Reduced, very thin and interrupted black striation, visible on mantle, flanks and to a lesser degree on the chest. When you view the bird you will see lighter green due to the reduction and dilution of dispersed melanin, thinner and shorter stripes, wider space in-between striation. Opaque flesh color beak feet and nails, charcoal grey under flue. Light suffusion of dispersed grey melanin and pearly grey around the edges of the wing and tail feathers. The lack of melanization on the eyebrows will make them stand out, outstanding black under mandible stripes (moustache) very noticeable particularly on males. Maximum absence of phaeomelanin required.

ISABEL SERIES - these birds are obtained from the crossover of genetic material which can occur when you cross Brown to Agate. The Isabel is the diluted version of the Brown. Striations are short, thinner, interrupted and diluted to a lighter brown. Head, mantle and flanks are well marked. Wider space in-between striation exposes more of the lipochrome. Flesh colored beak, feet and nails, light silver brown underflue. Light brown dispersed melanin mists the head mantle and tail. The lipochrome shows itself pure only in under parts and chest. Maximum absence of phaeomelanin required.

Black Yellow (Green)

Yellow lipochrome, black striations bordered by phaeomelanin pigment. Not a show specimen

The color of a canary is determined by two basic pigments; Lipochromes and Melanins (eumelanin and phaeomelanin) The lipochrome is the base color on which the melanins are superimposed and will show themselves as a design of striations of various dimensions and shapes in gradated shades of black or brown, these designs are divided into 4 series known as the Classic Melanins.