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Understanding Lipochrome Canaries

Updated: Nov 30, 2023

Thank You Antonio Javier Sanz and Enzo Del Pozzo for allowing me to use their photos for this article.



Lipochrome Canaries are birds that only displays no melanic markings making it one clean color throughout.


Uniformity: Even distribution of Lipochrome, design or both


Purity of Color: The intensity of Lipochrome the canary can produce.


Category


Category: Concept used to determine the distribution of Lipochrome throughout the plumage.


Canaries are based on 3 categories.


Intensive: Minimizes the effect of frost to the human eye, Lipochrome reaches to end of the sharp like feather due to the shrinkage of feathers. Spear point feathers can help improve the look on an intensive. Should not show any visual traces of frosting. (Short Feathered)


Non Intensive: Also known as “Frost”, Due to the lack of lipochrome on the top of the feathers it gives off a snowfall like look. The feather is longer than an Intensive. Due to selective breeding there are short feathered Non Intensives. Spear point feathers can be beneficial as well creating a thin frost. Visible small frosted scales evenly distributed throughout plumage. (Long Feathered)


Mosaic: Intense Lipochrome appears in specific zones with a chalk white background. It is considered to be a mix of Intensive and Non Intensive, has the longest feathers out of the 3 categories and have visual gender differences between Type 1 (Females) and Type 2 (Males).


Type 1 (Females) have a sharp ocular line that shows color and is visible. Eyes must be narrow. Chest will have slight Lipochrome but cannot extend from the throat, belly or flanks. Shoulders also must have Lipochrome.


Type 2 (Males) have a mask on their face that should be wide and well defined without going behind the neck or below chest. The chest of the males should have a triangular area separated from the mask with well defined Lipochrome. The shoulders and rump should also have Lipochrome.


Feather was introduced by crossing with a Gloster. Spear point feathers would only benefit hens, males should have a wide tip similar to a brush shape but more compacted. (Very Long Feathered)



Classic Mutations


Yellow


Some breeders prefer to color feed yellows with lutein while others have created a high quality selection where it’s natural color stands out without being need to be fed any additives. Lutein is a yellow colorant many breeders know of whether it is in powdered or liquid form. Lemon yellow refraction effect would be ideal.


Heritage: Dominant, Codominant


Effect: Yellow Lipochrome Color. Enzymatic Factor partially inhibits the production of melanin.

Standard- Pure Bright Yellow (not Gold Yellow.)


Genotype: g+/g


Species: Intensive Yellow, Non Intensive Yellow


Intensive Yellow



Non Intensive Yellow




Red


Breeders always use red colorants such as carophil, beta carotene or canthaxanthin to enhance the color. Some products are used in conjunction with one another like carophil with bogena in eggfood.


Heritage: Dominant, Codominant Additive


Effect: Red Tone Lipochrome


Standard - Bright Red


Genotype: r+/r


Species: Intensive Red, Non Intensive Red


Intensive Red Factor


Non Intensive Red Factor

by World Champion Canary Breeder Dirk Brislinger



Mosaics


In regards to mosaics it is very similar to explaining for both yellows and reds for the use of colorants. Mosaics however needs a special diet avoiding anything to give them color such as rape seed, fruits, veggies, eggfood. Mosaics must not be colorfed for an extended period of time of 60 days until after birth but it will range differently with other breeders.


Heritage: Linked to Sex Additive


Effect: Lipochrome in specific areas with a white background


Standard- Intensive lipochromic areas contrasting a chalk white background.


Genotype: m+/m


Species: Yellow Mosaic Male, Yellow Mosaic Hen,

Red Mosaic Male, Red Mosaic Hen


Yellow Mosaic Male




Yellow Mosaic Hen


Red Mosaic Male



White


The White mutation is truly a unique one, because there is two forms of white we must distinguish them apart. Dominant White mutation devoids most areas of Lipochrome except for the corneal parts. Yellow hues on the wing parts are accepted. Recessive White mutation eliminates all Lipochrome from it’s body only resulting in a snow white coloration throughout the plumage.



Dominant White


Heritage: Dominant


Effect: Reduction of Lipochrome


Standard: Greatest Reduction of Yellow with hints of light yellow on the wing with clean plumage. If lipochrome isn't visible for this bird it may get disqualified.


Genotype: CB+/CB


Side Note: Can only carry recessive white, red or mosaic



Recessive White


Heritage: Recessive


Effect: Total inhibition of Lipochrome


Standard: Must only have Pure white with no Lipochrome pigments.


Genotype: cb/cb





New Color Mutations


When it comes to new color mutations in Lipochrome, the judgement stays the same as the classic but now has an additional thing now needed in order to compete within the class. Some differences are alteration to plumage while others bring a new elements.


Ivory


Heritage: Linked to Sex


Effect: Modification of feather structure makes lipochrome appear more diffused and lighter.


Genotype: sc/sc or sc/0


Species: Intensive Yellow Ivory, Non Intensive Yellow Ivory

Yellow Ivory Mosaic Male, Yellow Ivory Mosaic Hen

Intensive Red Ivory, Non Intensive Red Ivory

Red Ivory Mosaic Male, Red Ivory Mosaic Hen




Intensive Red Ivory


Non Intensive Red Ivory


Yellow Ivory Mosaic Male



Yellow Ivory Mosaic Hen





Red Ivory Mosaic Hen


White Wings


Heritage: Selection


Effect: Alters Wing and Tail feathers to have no lipochrome present making it completely white.


Genotype:


Species: Intensive Yellow White Wings, Non Intensive Yellow White Wings

Intensive Yellow Ivory White Wings, Non Intensive Yellow Ivory White Wings

Intensive Red White Wings, Non Intensive Red White Wings

Intensive Red Ivory White Wings, Non Intensive Red Ivory White Wings



Intensive Yellow White Wings




Intensive Yellow Ivory White Wings


Intensive Red Factor White Wings


Non Intensive Red Ivory White Wings




Ino


Heritage: Recessive


Effect: Eye pigments turn Bright Ruby Red


Genotype: ino/ino


Side Note: Rubino (Red Eyed Factor), Lutino (Yellow with Red Eyes) and Albino (White with Red Eyes)


Species: Intensive Lutino, Non Intensive Lutino

Intensive Lutino Ivory, Non Intensive Lutino Ivory

Dominant Albino, Recessive Albino

Intensive Rubino, Non Intensive Rubino

Intensive Rubino Ivory, Non Intensive Rubino Ivory

Lutino Mosaic Male, Lutino Mosaic Hen

Lutino Ivory Mosaic Male, Lutino Ivory Mosaic Hen

Rubino Mosaic Male, Rubino Mosaic Hen

Rubino Ivory Mosaic Male, Rubino Ivory Mosaic Hen



Recessive Albino



Intensive Lutino



Non Intensive Lutino Ivory


Lutino Mosaic Male


Lutino Ivory Yellow Mosaic Hen


Rubino Mosaic Hen (Male Line)


Yellow Beak ( Bec Jaune)

Heritage: Recessive


Effect: Alters Yellow Lipochrome pigmentation in areas like the beak, legs, and skin. Also modifies the feathers making it appear silkier.


Genotype: pa/pa


Side Note: The Non Intensive Yellow Beak will have a frosting that will look similar to a classic yellow Lipochrome.


Species: Intensive Yellow Bec Jaune, Non Intensive Yellow Bec Jaune

Intensive Yellow Ivory Bec Jaune, Non Intensive Yellow Ivory Bec Jaune



Red Beak (Red Urucum)


Heritage: Recessive


Effect: Alters Red Lipochrome pigmentation in areas like the beak, leg and skin. Also modifies the feathers making it appear silkier.


Genotype: pr/pr


Side Note: The Non Intensive Red Urucum will have a pink frosting rather than a white frost like effect in classic reds.


Species: Intensive Red Urucum, Non Intensive Red Urucum

Intensive Red Ivory Urucum, Non Intensive Red Ivory Urucum


Intensive Red Urucum



Non Intensive Red Urucum



Here's a recommendation to further your knowledge on lipochrome canaries: "Lipochromes Colour Canaries in the 21st Century" by Antonio Javier Sanz. Books come in bilingual (English/Spanish) and (French/Italian)


https://en.libros-engonari.com/libros-de-pajaros



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