The white-throated canary was formerly placed in the genus Serinus but phylogenetic analysis using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences found that the genus was polyphyletic.
[3][4] The white-throated canary is a small bird about 15 cm long with generally dull-coloured plumage and a yellow or yellow-green rump.
It has a heavy horn-coloured beak and brown irises.
The male and female have similar external appearances, and juveniles resemble adults.
[5] It is found in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, and South Africa.