All About Canaries
Descendants of the Island Canary are Popular Pet Birds
Bred in captivity since the 1500s, Serinus canarius domesticus is a colorful independent songster that is easy to keep, even in an apartment.
The Island Canary, Serinus canaria, is native to the Canary Islands, the Azores, and Madeira. During the 16th century some of these birds were captured and brought to the mainland to be kept as pets. Since then, the rather plain greenish yellow and brown birds have been bred selectively, and even interbred with goldfinches, to produce brighter colours, more vibrant song, different shapes, and more ornate feathers. The domestic bird today, quite unlike its forbears, is Serinus canaria domesticus.
Canary Basics
Canaries are small birds, about 4 to 8 inches long (10 – 20 cm). Known for their bright colours and beautiful song, they were once the most common caged bird, and they are still among the most popular birds kept as pets. Today, there are yellow, white, red, orange and brown canaries, and also varieties with different shapes and decorative plumage. Canaries are easy to keep, even in small apartments, and are a good choice for a first time bird owner. They live from 5 to 12 years in captivity. They don’t talk, but a singing canary can learn a new melody.
Choosing a Canary
People look for different things when they shop for a canary. Feather colors, unusual plumage or particular body shapes are visually apparent to the informed shopper, but most prospective pet owners are looking for a bird that will sing. Male birds—who sing to attract females—are the ones to choose. It should be a single male: a male kept with a female will not sing.
Although wild male and female canaries look a bit different, the domestic birds are all alike, so people shopping for birds must rely on breeders to identify the males.
What a Canary Needs
Canaries are moderately active birds that don’t generally like to be handled and are content to stay in the cage and amuse themselves. Many canary owners talk or whistle to their pets and play music: male birds will learn new tunes in the spring. The basic needs of a canary are simple:
- a wide cage that gives the bird room to fly for exercise (width is more important than height)
- perches set as far apart as possible and preferably made of rough wood
- a small shallow dish for bathing, filled with fresh lukewarm water each morning
- a diet of seed, fresh fruit and greens
- a cage cover, so the bird can rest during the evening and night, even if lights are still on
Canary Trivia
Canaries have been with us long enough to earn their place in history, art and medicine:
- Canaries were traditionally carried into mines and tunnels to warn of gas pockets and buildups. The birds die quickly in the presence of deadly carbon monoxide or explosive methane—if the canary in the mine died, the men got out.
- The famous and beloved Disney character, Tweety Bird, who is continually evading a hungry cat, is a canary.
- Singing canaries lose many neurons and grow new ones in the spring, a trait that is being researched in the hope that it can shed light on human dementias.
Anyone considering obtaining a canary should research the species thoroughly to be sure they understand the responsibilities, risks, and costs involved.
Sources:
Birds Off the Perch. Lachman, Larry, Diane Grindol, and Frank Kocher. New York: Fireside; 2003.
The Complete Pet Bird Owner’s Handbook. Gallerstein, Gary A. Minneapolis: Avian Publications; 2003.
Firefly Encyclopedia of Birds. Perrins, Christopher ed. Buffalo: Firefly Books, 2003
