Fun Canary Facts For Kids

The domestic canary (Serinus canaria domestica), also called canary (Serinus canaria), is a small songbird native to the Canary Islands. They originated from their wild canary counterparts. These Islands are on the West African Coast. They eventually became famous for their unique characteristics of singing.

In the 17th century, canaries were bred in captivity and eventually brought by the Spanish sailors to Europe. Thus, the bird became very expensive to breed and became a fashion statement in the courts of Spanish and English kings. Only the males were sold in those days, and the monks bred them. This used to keep the bird supply less and the prices high. Eventually, the Italians bred the birds. The bird became popular and soon was sought after in all of Europe.

The canaries came of very interesting use. They could detect carbon monoxide, and such characteristics are beneficial for the coal mining industry. They were bred and used extensively in the industries of the UK, US, and Canada. This was not a healthy practice. The domestic canary is a very fondly petted species and is kept as a caged bird. Their lifespan could extend to as long as 15 years if they are kept good in health. Good canary bird care is essential for their good health and long life.

The domestic canary comes in a variety of colors like yellow, orange, pink, brown, etc. The yellow canary is the most popular of them all.

Song canaries are very easily bred and can survive on a healthy diet of a good mix of seeds, fruits, veggies, and egg foods. The canary bird song depends mostly on what type of canary it is. Some canaries are also known to sing a whole variety of songs, while some only sing in a certain manner. Some of the famous canary songs are the Spanish Timbrado, the American Singer, and the waterslager. Female canaries generally communicate with chirps, while males can sing a lot of songs. Canary is listed in the category of Least Concern by the IUCN.

Included in this article are canary bird facts for kids, canary perch, canary origin, canary environment temperature, canary diet, canary song, canary feathers, and so on.

You may also check out house finch facts and European goldfinch facts from Kidadl.

What type of animal is a canary?

Canaries are a type of bird similar to the finch.

What class of animal does a canary belong to?

Canaries belong to the class of Aves.

How many canaries are there in the world?

According to popular estimates, there are 80,000-90,000 pairs in the Canary Islands, 30,000-60,000 pairs in the Azores, and 4,000-5,000 pairs in population in Madeira.

Where does a canary live?

Canaries are mostly domesticated birds that are found in a house or an aviary. The wild Atlantic canary can be found in woodlands and forests.

What is a canary's habitat?

The canaries can live in a wide range of habitats outside. It can live in pine forests, sand dunes, laurel forests, orchards, parks, and gardens. It can be easily domesticated and bred in a cage as a pet in houses and urban settlements.

Who do canaries live with?

The canaries are usually solitary birds that prefer to be alone. They are mostly monogamous and can distinguish their mate from other canaries. If two male canaries or female canaries are kept together, they are likely to get into a fight.

How long does a canary live?

The canaries have a life expectancy of up to 15 years. In some cases, they do live up to 20 years, especially caged and well-bred pet canaries. It is interesting to know that canaries can die from reactions caused by extreme fright.

How do they reproduce?

The canary is a bird that nests in groups with pairs defending their range of territory. They build a cup-shaped nest above the ground at the height of 3-20 ft (1-6 meters). They hide in a tree or bush amongst the leaves.

They lay their eggs between the months of January to July if they are in the Canary Islands; in Madeira, they lay their eggs between March to June with April as their peak month; in the Azores, they prefer the months of March to July peaking in May and June. The eggs are of various colors: pale blue or blue-green and markings of violet and red at the ends. In each clutch, there are three to five eggs, and between two and three broods are raised each year.

What is their conservation status?

Canaries are categorized as of Least Concern by the IUCN. They are of various types and are even a good choice as a pet.

The canaries were kept in coal mines for many years in a canary birdcage. Birds are highly sensitive to increased levels of carbon emissions like carbon monoxide and methane gases. The gases would kill the caged canaries even if the miners were not affected much. The popular saying, which goes like 'canary in a coal mine,' means an early warning sign.

What do canaries look like?

The male canary generally has a yellow-green head. Their forehead and face are yellower. They have a whitish lower belly and under-tail. The female is generally similar to the male canary but duller with a grayer head, breast, and underparts.

How cute are they?

Canaries are adorable little songbirds with melodious and fresh voices. They are very cute with their small size, yellow plumage, and small beaks.

How do they communicate?

Adult male canaries can make elaborate songs and noises. The female canaries are generally quiet and mostly emit a chirping sound.

How big is a canary?

A canary measures about 4-6 in (10.2-15.2 cm). It is about three times smaller than a pigeon.

How fast can a canary fly?

The speed of a canary has not yet been recorded.

How much does a canary weigh?

Canaries are very light and weigh approximately 0.4-1.1 oz (12-30 g).

What are the male and female names of the species?

Both males and females of this species are called canaries, but sometimes the female is called a hen, and the male is called a cock.

What would you call a baby canary?

A baby canary is called a chick.

What do they eat?

The canary bird food is composed of a diet of seeds, fruits, and vegetables.

Are they friendly?

Canaries are shy and timid birds and are mostly kept as hands-off pets in cages. They are quite friendly with their owner and often interact with songs and tweets. Hands-on canaries, if bred so since birth, will also be very friendly.

Would they make a good pet?

Yes, domestic canaries make a great pet for people who do not wish to have a hands-on and large-sized pet. A canary birdbath is also kept as a good practice. Wood perches are also kept for caring for the canary. Perch variety helps in caring for the bird’s feet. These birds need ample room in their cages. Their cage should be covered at night to make them feel calm and sleepy. They have a life expectancy of about 10 years and are songbirds with melodious voices. With some exercise, they can even be trained to sing in different ways. If taken good care of their health, they can survive for 15 years.

Please adhere to your local laws and regulations regarding any animal as a pet.

Characteristics

The canaries are lovely little birds that prefer peaceful and quiet surroundings. A pet canary in a cage is a good companion for people who do not want the hassle of keeping a hands-on pet that needs regular grooming. A canary is not very comfortable being held or touched; however, if it is used to it, it will not object. The male canaries sing elaborate songs and have great vocal versatility. Song canaries cannot talk.

Did you know…

Canaries are lovable birds that have often been developed into cartoon characters. Tweety Bird is a pet canary and a favorite cartoon character from Looney Toons. Tweety is a household name now and a part of canary bird symbolism. The TV show Tom and Jerry by Hanna Barbera also features a pet canary bird in some of its episodes. DC Comics Justice League features a superheroine by the name of Black Canary.

Canary islands- According to popular folklore, in the first century, there came a chief in an island which he found was abundant with wild dogs. He named that Island Canaria, the inspiration for which came from the Latin word for dog, that is, ‘canis.’ After many years hence, there came an influx of a lot of visitors on the Islands. They witnessed some birds singing and belting songs from all the trees. The visitors named the birds' Canaries after the name of the Island.

Types of a canary bird

The canary types are pink canary, orange canary, yellow canary, green canary, red canary, blue canary, black canary, wild canary, white canary, and the American singer canary.

The types of canary birds which are known to sing are the Spanish timbrado, American singer, waterslager, and Russian singer.

Getting your own canary

A pet canary costs anywhere between $25 to $100. They are easily bred birds with a large population and can be found in most online or walk-in pet shops. They need large-sized cages, wood perches, and toys to fly around and play with in order to keep busy. Almost all singing canaries will be male canaries. It is advisable to buy either a single canary or a pair of male and female if you are looking to breed. Keeping two canaries of the same gender is not advisable as they might get into fights.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these painted bunting facts and shrike facts for kids.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our Cape Canary coloring pages.