The Fife Fancy Canary
(The 'Original' Border Canary)


The origins of the Fife Fancy Canary go back to 1951, when a group of Scottish Border Canary fanciers took a historic stand; they refused to 'go along with' the endless demand for bigger and bulkier Borders which made a mockery of the Ideal Model Standard. These breeders believed that the Border Canary should be held to the original ideal, of a small, compact bird, not more than 4.5 inches in length, with a lively action and a jaunty style.

Clear Yellow Unflighted Cock

 The original enthusiasts from the county of Fife in Scotland were seen as 'voices crying in the wilderness'; the political and financial centre of gravity of the Border Fancy had long ago moved south into England, and the trend was for bigger, bulkier, heavily feathered birds.

So it took courage to stand against the tides of fashion and assert that in the case of the Border Canary 'Small is Beautiful'.

The following information was provided by David Lumsden - son and exhibition partner of Walter Lumsden:

QUOTE
"The first meeting of the Fife Fancy was held in the Feuers Hall at Kirkcaldy, Fife, in 1952.
An advert was placed in Cage Birds Magazine by my father. Five fanciers turned up to the inaugural meeting of the Fife Fancy Canary Club.

<>Present were
<>

              Walter Lumsden  - of Dysart
                        James Reid         - of Buckhaven
                        John Taylor        - of Mountwannie
                        John Heggie       -from Coaltown of Balgonie
                        James Lister      -of Leslie

Officers elected
                        President.                W. Lumsden
                                        Vice President        J. Heggie
                                        Secretary                 J. Reid.

 The fawn cock which was awarded Best Canary at the UK National show in 1975 was  bred by David Lumsden and was exhibited in partnership with his father Walter , as W &D Lumsden. "
END QUOTE

During the 1950s  and '60s the birds could only be exhibited as 'Miniature Border Canaries' in the 'Any Other Variety' class. This was understandable because they were 'the original Border Canary', as it was before the 'size-madness' took hold among Border breeders. The original Border Canary was a small bird, affectionately known as 'the wee gem', in its homeland on the England-Scotland border.

All of the Standard Models recorded from the 1890s to the 1960s confirmed the defining qualities of the Border canary: small, pert, jaunty, lively in action, tight-feathered, smoothly-rounded in head and body. But it was the corruption and abandonment of this Standard by the advocates of the 'Big Border' that led to the 'creation' of the Fife, by those few Scottish fanciers who treasured the qualities of the original classic. In this sense, they did not really 'create' a new variety of canary at all; they simply preserved and protected, 'the original Border canary'.



Walter Lumsden - 87 years old pioneer of the Fife Fancy, admiring the Best Bird in Show at the Scottish National 2001
 In 1975 Walter Lumsden showing in partnership with his son David Lumsden, won the UK National Show, with a Self Fawn Cock, which judge George.C. Lynch awarded Best Canary in Show - ahead of all the Borders, Yorkshires, Norwich, Glosters and other varieties that day. 

Up to this point, 'Fife' Canaries could only been exhibited in the class: "Any Other Variety of Canary".  However,  following the Lumsden Partnership's  historic victory, the breed was finally acknowledged as the Fife Fancy Canary. 

Today, Fifes increasingly form the largest class at most UK canary shows, displacing the Border Canary.  The reasons for this are that, in contrast to the Border Canary, the Fife remains true to its origins as:

  •  A small, agile, jaunty bird
  • Highly fertile, a good parent and breeds freely
  • Inexpensive birds cost as little as £8 and a Champion can be had for £30
  • Healthy and trouble-free.
 

 
UK Contacts
 Fifes 2
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