^Serinus Mozambicus is the official name.  The Green Singer is not actually very green at all.  It is actually a really nice yellow background color with grey and black striped marks.  Perhaps Americans call it that because in hearing it's sweet song, one can imagine being in a lush, green valley far removed from any cares or worries.  That is the first mystery of this bird.

This is a fun bird to watch because of their high energy level, often hopping around in the cage from perch to perch, and sometimes even from side to side on the cage walls, they are quite lively and always seem to be "doing" something.  Some personalities posess funny antics such as head twisting and hanging upside down.  With this behaviour one might wonder if perhaps they are "looking for the sky" and thinking they'd much rather escape to be in flight somewhere in Africa instead of being in their cage.  They have been known to be quite panicky whenever their owners come to feeding and such.  They value their privacy and appreciate silk greenery to be placed around their cage.  Better for owner to get in, do your business, and get out and at short distance to enjoy their carrying on.

Size:  smaller than a Canary, but larger than a Society Finch.  Approx 3-4 inches beak to tail.  They are petite and elegant and have been known in some circles as "Crowned Canaries".  It has been noted that there are two different sizes of this bird and it is rumoured that the types are broken out by "East" and "West" African.  The larger type is closer in size to a Canary, but not quite.

Song:  Lighter and more delicate and airy than canary, at a higher pitch.  Very pleasant and known to sing at specific times of the day, morning, midday and profusely at dusk.  The writer of this page owned a solitary male singer for many years, and singing was profuse all throughout the day at all times.

Do you think you know how the Green Singer got it's Americanized name? Please write to saahira@attglobal.net.