Domestic canary

Uncommon card · No. 83844

The domestic canary (Serinus canaria forma domestica), often simply known as the canary, is a domesticated form and subspecies of the wild canary, a small songbird in the finch family originating in the Macaronesian Islands. Over the past 500 years of captivity, a wide variety of coloured, decorative and singing canaries have been bred through selection. The canary has been kept as a pet for centuries, which began after the European conquests of the islands inhabited by its wild ancestor. They were domesticated and became prized possessions in 17th century Europe, eventually becoming popular even amongst poorer households, largely due to its melodious song and flexibility in breeding. They were also a highly popular pet in the United States from the 19th century until the mid 20th century. Sacrificial female canaries were formerly used in coal mines as a sentinel species, whose deaths there indicated the presence of carbon monoxide or other toxic gases. Domestic canaries come in a wide...

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