NEW HAVEN, Conn. — The birds have long been popular for their brilliant colors and beautiful songs, but Connecticut authorities say hundreds of saffron finches and canaries drew a crowd betting on a brawl.
Police arrested 19 people from Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Jersey and seized 150 birds in a house raid on an alleged bird-fighting operation. Most of the birds were saffron finches, which are small birds native to South America, and a few were canaries, officials said.
Police said they made the arrests Sunday just as spectators had placed bets and were getting ready to watch the birds fight at a home in Shelton, just west of New Haven. Authorities say they seized $8,000 in alleged betting money.
Authorities often deal with cockfighting, but police and animal experts said they had not heard of fighting involving finches and canaries before.
