Canaries are beautiful singing birds that have been domesticated for hundreds of years. Originally drab greenish-gray birds from the Canary Islands (which were named for a breed of dog, not the bird), these days canaries come in a wide range of colors, sizes, shapes, and song styles. Their relatively easy care makes them ideal pets for modern households.
Why Choose a Canary for Your Home?
While all pets require adequate care and attention, a single male canary is quite happy living alone so long as he is provided an adequate cage that is large, longer than it is tall, clean, and in good repair; good food that is balanced and nutritious; fresh, clean water; and some basic measures are taken to ensure that he has the environment he needs to be healthy and to sing well.
How Long Will Your Pet Live?
The lifespan of canaries varies widely, but pet birds receiving good care can be expected to live eight to ten years and often longer.
Keeping Your Bird
Unlike birds such as finches, canaries are not highly social and it is not required or especially desirable to keep them in a flock. They can be kept in a mixed aviary as they are not generally aggressive towards other species.
Male (cock) and female (hen) birds should not be housed together except when they are actively breeding or during the molt. Caging several males together can result in injuries caused by fighting and most males will stop singing. There are situations where males can be caged together successfully, but for the general pet owner housing them separately is the easiest and most successful way to keep more than one bird.
Due to the likelihood of injury or even death, canaries should never be housed with hookbilled birds such as parakeets, lovebirds, and the larger species of birds.
Canaries Bred For Color and Type
Modern canaries of most breeds come in a wide range of colors including green, yellow, white, blue, and many shades of red. The only colors that do not currently exist are true blue (the so-called "blue" canary is actually slate gray) and purple. While a black canary has reportedly been developed, these are still very rare.
Canaries bred specifically for color are referred to as "colorbred canaries". In addition to the basic colors, colorbred canaries include subsets named for various mutations such as opal, ino, mosaic, satinette, and many more. Those breeds developed for their shape and conformation are known as "type canaries" and include popular breeds such as Border, Fife, Gloster, Yorkshire, and many others.
Canaries Bred For Song
For those seeking especially melodious singers, a number of breeds bred specifically for song have been developed. A few of these include such breeds as the German Roller, the Spanish Timbrado, the Belgium Waterslager, and the American Singer. Each is unique and possesses its own sound.
References:
Horst Bielfeld, Canaries and Related Birds, T. F. H. Publications, 1981.
G. T. Dodwell, Encyclopedia of Canaries, T. F. H. Publications, 1976.
G.B.R. Walker, Colored, Type & Song Canaries, Seacoast Publishing, 1987.
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