Frilled canaries are bred, and best known for, their very ornamental appearance.

The different varieties of frilled canaries originate from a mutation that occurred in the old Dutch breed of canary in the 1800s. This mutation affected the formation and unusual disposition of the feathers.

Formerly, they were known only as Dutch Canaries; however, over the years varieties developed with sufficiently different characteristics to warrant different names.

Frilled canaries have never been widely kept in the United States and are little known to the majority of fanciers.