HV Cinnamon Canary ←The Bird on your Left is a Heavily Variegated Cinnamon
Avoiding the genetics and look at the outcomes rather than why. The Fife Canary is no different to any other Canary when it comes to cinnamon, and cinnamon does cause confusion even with the most experienced breeders. Cinnamon was first seen c.1709 and probably arose as a mutation in the gene producing melanin, which produces the dark pigment in feathers. Cinnamon is a sex-linked gene and can be passed on from either the hen or cock, to the young produced. All cinnamon chicks will be born with PINK eyes, however the eyes will become so dark as the bird gets older, that it is almost impossible to see in an adult bird. Cinnamon carrying Cocks however will have BLACK eyes. Cinnamon can be Clear and should not be confused with Cinnamon carrying Cocks. To identify Cinnamon birds I ring all pink-eyed birds on the left leg and normals on the right leg. Cinnamon is usually used by the experienced breeder, to improve feather quality, and or to reduce feather bulk.
The bird on the right is a LV Yellow Cinnamon. →
LV Cinnamon Canary
When pairing, type should be the first consideration because the use of cinnamon over time, without considering type will lead to loss of type and very fine-feathered birds. The following is a combination of pairs and the expected chicks produced. In the following pairings a green hen or cock represents a bird carrying no cinnamon, or cinnamon markings.

PAIRING PROGENY
GREEN COCK X GREEN HEN = All GREEN no cinnamon or cinnamon carriers
GREEN COCK X CINNAMON HEN = GREEN CINNAMON CARRIER COCKS & GREEN HENS
GREEN CINNAMON CARRIER COCK X GREEN HEN = GREEN CINNAMON CARRIER COCKS & CINNAMON HENS & GREEN COCKS & GREEN HENS
GREEN CINNAMON CARRYING COCK X CINNAMON HEN = GREEN CINNAMON CARRYING COCKS & CINNAMON COCKS & CINNAMON HENS & GREEN HENS
CINNAMON COCK X GREEN HEN = GREEN CINNAMON CARRYING COCKS & CINNAMON HENS & NORMALS
CINNAMON COCK X CINNAMON HEN = All CINNAMON COCKS & HENS

A COCK MUST BE ONE OF THREE THINGS
  • Non-cinnamon [BLACK eyed]
  • Cinnamon carrier [BLACK eyed]
  • Cinnamon [PINK eyed]

A HEN MUST BE ONE OF TWO THINGS
  • Non-cinnamon [Black eyed]
  • Cinnamon [PINK eyed]
She cannot, like a cock be a cinnamon carrier. She has only one X chromosome and on it she must receive either the cinnamon gene or the normal allelomorph (alternative) gene.

The Complete Book of Canaries by G T Dodwell
Our Border Canaries by W Cummings
Author: J Hart - Published 7/6/2009