Meet the Canary

Noted for their beautiful songs and lively personalities, canaries are popular pets among young and old hobbyists alike. They are pretty, bright little birds who are interesting to watch and pleasant to listen to, but as with any pet, they require specific care to keep them happy and healthy.

Canaries come in a variety of sizes, colors, and shapes, and they even sing differently from one another, depending on the breed. In general, the domestic canary is in the 4–8" (10–20 cm) range and weighs 0.4–1 oz (12–30 g).

Over many years of domestication, numerous distinct varieties, or breeds, of canaries have developed. There are nearly 30 breeds of domestic canaries today, and they fit into three categories: song, type, and color.

Song canaries are bred specifically to sing well, and each breed has a different way of singing, with different notes and patterns. Type canaries are bred for certain physical characteristics, such as how they stand, the appearance of their feathers, or the presence of a crest (a noticeable tuft of feathers on the head), and vary in appearance depending on the breed. Color canaries are bred for color mutations, often with only very slight distinctions to the novice’s eye. (For more information on the different canary breeds, see Canary Varieties.)

In general, canaries are active, lively birds, but they aren’t social and prefer to live alone rather than with groups of other canaries. Males, especially, squabble with and even injure other birds encroaching on their territory, but male/female pairs also fight with one another outside of breeding season.

A canary can be bossy and territorial with other canaries, but he tends to be either shy or friendly toward humans, depending on his personality. A canary generally isn’t a very interactive pet, so you’re not likely to handle or play with your canary as you would another bird, such as an African Grey parrot. Consider your canary a “watching-only” pet to enjoy for his colorful appearance and pretty song.

Only male canaries sing, and they do so to claim their territory and to attract mates. This is another good reason to keep a single canary: if you surround a male with females, he doesn’t need to sing to attract them. And if you keep multiple males, you’re likely only to hear the song of one bird, as only the dominant male will sing.

Male canaries don’t sing from birth—they must be taught. Canary breeders often keep adult canaries who are especially good at singing near younger males to teach them how to sing well from an early age. Canaries are natural mimics, so if you own a young canary and want him to learn to sing well, you can purchase a CD of canary songs to play for him. (You may also notice your canary mimicking some household noises, like a ringing phone, along with the traditional notes of canary song.)

The wild canary (Serinus canaria) is very different from his domesticated counterparts. A member of the finch family (Fringillidae), he is native to the Canary Islands, Madeira, and the Azores and tends mostly to inhabit open, arid scrubland. He is much smaller than the domestic canary and only occurs in one color: a greenish-grayish-yellow with black-brown stripes on the wings, back, and flanks. The wild canary resembles a smaller version of the common sparrow but possesses the pleasant singing voice the domestic canary is also known for.

A properly cared-for canary can live to be more than 10 years old, and in some cases even 20 years old. Before bringing a canary into your home, you should be willing and able to care for him for many years. As with any companion animal, he requires a suitable environment in order to live a long, happy life. It’s up to you to keep your bird well fed, healthy, and safe in your home.

Unlike a parrot, for example, a canary isn’t meant to be handled or played with. Keep this in mind when introducing a canary into your home because a child might prefer a more interactive bird such as a parakeet or lovebird. A canary can make a good pet for a child who understands this, as long as an adult remains in charge of feeding, cleaning, and care until the child is old enough to care for the bird on her own.

If you have a canary in a home with a young child, don’t allow the canary to have free flight in the house. Children are apt to leave a door or window open without thinking of the bird, allowing your canary to get out of the house—and to become forever lost to you.