Canary

Canary, common name for a small finch native to the Azores, the Madeira Islands, and the Canary and Cape Verde islands. It is bred as a cage bird throughout the world. In its wild state, the canary builds its nest of moss, feathers, or hair in thick, bushy, high shrubs or trees and produces from two to four broods in a season; its plumage is olive green or greenish yellow, tinged with brown. The birds produced by selective breeding are predominantly yellow. In confinement the canary often breeds three or four times a year, laying from four to six pale blue eggs in each clutch. The canary can be taught various notes or series of notes, which it in turn will teach to its young. Many varieties of canaries have been produced by selective scientific breeding. Particularly noted as a songbird is the Harz Mountain canary, bred in Germany.

Some canaries are bred for beauty and trained to perch in a manner that will best display their attractiveness. These ornamental varieties include the crested Norwich; the Scotch fancy, a slender bird with high-arched shoulders; and the Manchester, a show variety noted for its size. The reddish color in some canaries is derived by hybridization with the red siskin of northern South America. Collection for this purpose has nearly caused the extinction of the red siskin.

Canary songs consist of bass and flute notes, as well as “bell” and “bubbling water” sounds. The songs are classified as either “roller” or “chopper.” The roller song is soft and is sung with a nearly closed beak. The chopper song is loud, natural, and produced with an open beak; distinct “chop-chop” sounds are also heard. Some breeds of canary sing a warblerlike song combining both types.

Scientific classification: The canary and the red siskin belong to the family Fringillidae. The canary is classified as Serinus canarius, the red siskin as Carduelis cucullata.