Roller Canary

Looks how to spot one

feathers

An ordinary-looking, slim canary, since it is judged only on its song. The male sings a soft, deep, rolling song with its beak almost closed and its throat puffed out.132

Personality what they are like

A gentle song canary. Young males learn their song by listening to good tutor birds or recordings, so their surroundings shape how they sing.21

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Needs space to fly between perches like any canary; young singers are trained from two or three months old to settle in song cages.32

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Preens and bathes itself. Breeders who want a pure Roller song keep other canary types out of earshot.2

Home where they are happiest

Canaries exercise by flying, so choose a cage that is long and wide enough for short flights between perches, or an aviary. Place it away from draughts, windows and strong direct sun, and clean the floor of the cage regularly.3

Food basics what goes in the bowl

A canary seed mix with greens, fruit and vegetables.4

Company who they like around

Can be kept with other canaries, but song breeders keep Rollers apart from other breeds so young males learn the right song.23

The story where it all began

Miners brought canaries to the Upper Harz around 1730, and breeding and selling songbirds became an important side trade in the mining towns. By the mid-1800s the Harz Roller had become a celebrated export sold across Europe and to America. It is the oldest breed selected purely for its song.123

Recognised by the official bits

COM (Confederation Ornithologique Mondiale)

Recognised as one of the three main song canary breeds3