We're Small But We're Typey.

-History-

The Norwich was originally introduced into England about four hundred years ago by Flemish refugees who settled in and around the city of Norwich. By the middle of the nineteenth century, the Norwich had emerged as one of the most popular breeds to exhibit in England. This early Norwich was much smaller, about 5 1/4 inches long, and slimmer than the bird of today. In the late 1800's two events drastically altered the size and appearance of the Norwich: outcrossing the breed to the massive Lancashire Coppy, and introducing the practice of color feeding. In 1890, over 400 Norwich breeders assembled to decide on a new standard of type and quality for the Norwich canary.

The American Norwich Society was formed in 1970 becoming this country's first specialist society solely devoted to the Norwich canary. ANS was responsible for adopting the standard British show cage in this country and developing a new interior color. In 2000, ANS and NPC decided to return to the English standard color for the interior of the Norwich show cage.

This club seeks to educate both breeders and judges in a sound understanding of the Standard of Excellence for the Norwich. ANS worked with the Norwich clubs in England to update the visual model into a more representative image of the style and type of bird being bred and exhibited today. Francis Martin, founder and past President of ANS, commissioned and owns the copyright to the above picture of the Norwich model.

Currently the American Norwich Society is trying to get a new division for the Norwich at the National Cage Bird Show. At this time there are four breds of canary in the Type division (Yorkshire, Norwich, Stafford, and Columbus Fancy).