Profile
Native to the Macaronesian islands (the Canary Islands, Azores, Madeira), the domestic canary (Serinus canaria domestica) has been bred in Europe since the 15th century for its song. Unlike the budgerigar, it's a fairly solitary species: singing males don't cohabit well together and are usually kept alone.
Feeding
- Base: species-specific canary seed mix (canary grass seed, rapeseed, a little niger seed), in measured amounts
- Supplement: a small amount of fresh greens, egg food during molting and breeding
- Cuttlebone available for calcium
Care
- Cage at least 40cm wide, longer than tall to favor horizontal flight
- Bathing dish available several times a week — canaries love to bathe
- Higher-protein diet during the annual molt (6 to 8 weeks)
Daily life
The canary doesn't take well to handling and rarely tames to the hand the way a budgerigar does — it's above all a bird to watch and listen to, especially males whose song intensifies in spring. A soothing presence rather than an interactive companion.