![]() ![]() Photo by Warrior Squirrel Canary - Species Profile: Origin: The Canary Islands General descriptionCanaries are known for their beauty and wonderful vocal talents. They have been kept as pets since the 1400s. While the most common colour of these birds is yellow, there are many different varieties such as bronze, white, red, green, orange, and even brown. Selective breeding produces new colour variations every day. Canaries are 10 to 12 cm long, and their average life span is 10 to 15 years.TemperamentMost Canaries are somewhat timid and shy; they don't enjoy handling as much as other pet birds like budgies or cockatiels (although there may be exceptions). Canaries feel much more comfortable interacting with their owners from a large flight cage, so they had better be admired from afar. Quite independent, they are not birds for handling.Canaries tend to be quite territorial, so make sure you don't keep more than one individual per cage. For the same reason, it's not generally recommended to put a mirror in their cage. The reflection can be taken as another bird, and your Canary won't be happy about it to say the least. If you want a Canary that sings, get a male. Moreover, males and females should not be kept in pairs if you want your male to sing. It's also important to remember that summer is a molting season, so don't expect your companion to sing during this time. If you want a quiet Canary, get a female. Canaries love to fly and require a lot of exercise. Their cage should be large enough to let them fly around in it every day. A variety of safe toys should always be available so that your Canary doesn't get bored. Health and nutritionCanaries are very fragile and easily frightened birds, so they may not do well in a home with very young children. The bird's cage should be as large as possible to provide the bird with enough space to maintain its health and happiness. Never clip a Canary's wings!A Canary's diet should consist of high quality pellets specifically designed for Canaries. This diet should be supplemented with fresh sprouts, fruits and vegetables, including fresh greens. Back to Pet Bird Species. | Have a question? People are waiting to help. |