A bird whose greenish blue to yellow look is beautifully enhanced by his rich melodic song.
Meet the Island Canary
Photo courtesy of Juan Emilio / CC BY-SA 2.0
The Atlantic canary (Serinus canaria), known worldwide simply as the wild canary and also called the island canary, ranges from 10 to 12 cm in length (3.9to 4.0 inches), weighing in at around an average of 15 g (0.53 ounces). The male’s head is mostly yellow-green as are his underparts, while his forehead and face are more yellow. His lower belly and undertail coverts are mostly white with some dark streaks on his sides. His upper parts are greater green with dark streaks and his rump is a shade of dull yellow.
The female looks similar to the male though she does have a slightly more dull head and breast. She also has less yellow on her underparts.
Juvenile birds are mostly brown with dark streaks.
Photo courtesy of Juan Emilio / CC BY-SA 2.0
These birds are endemic to the Canary Islands, the Azores, and also Madeira.
This bird prefers to live in pine and wall forests around sections however it can also be found in sem-iopen areas with small trees such as orchards and hedgerows. It also frequents urban gardens and parks.
Photo courtesy of Juan Emilio / CC BY-SA 2.0
These birds like to feed in flocks, foraging on the ground amongst low vegetation, looking for seeds from weeds, grasses, and figs. However, they have also been known to dine on other plant materials and some small insects.
The Island Canary often lives in groups with each couple defending a small part of their territory. A cup-shaped nest is built around 1 to 6 m above ground level, usually in a tree or small bush well hidden amongst the leaves. Made of twigs, grass, moss, and other plant material, it is usually placed on a branch or fork near the trunk and lined with soft material including feathers and hair. A clutch of 3 to 5 pale blue or blue-green eggs with reddish markings is laid within and incubated for 13 to 14 days, with the young leaving the nest after 14 to 21 days.
Photo courtesy of Juan Emilio / CC BY-SA 2.0
This bird is regarded as of Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Photo courtesy of Juan Emilio / CC BY-SA 2.0
You can watch and listen to the spirit right here in the video below:
