We all know that the Canary Islands are one of the best tourist destinations in the world. But there is a lot that tourists do not know about the Canaries, which is quite interesting. For example, a large part of the Canary Islands is the exotic species of birds native to these Islands.
Well, why are the Canary birds called canaries? Are there Canary birds in the Islands? What other birds are in major Canary Island cities? These and other questions will be answered today.
The Canary birds are pretty common in the Canary Islands. However, they can be more commonly seen in the Tenerife, La Palma, and La Gomera regions and less in other Islands in the cluster of the Canaries.
In this article, I will talk about the Canary Islands, Canary Birds, their relation, birds in Tenerife, national birds, bird watching, and everything about birds in the Canary Islands that you should know if you are a tourism and bird lover. So, without wasting any further time, let us get started with this.
Do Canary Birds come from the Canary Islands?
A lot of people tend to ask this question, do canary birds come from the Canary Islands? Well, somewhat yes. The wild canary bird is native to the Canary Islands and a few other islands, including the Azores and Spanish Madeira Islands. These birds are commonly streak-backed and greenish-brown in terms of color. However, you might see different variants and colors on the birds as well on the Islands.
But you can also see wild canaries belonging to other regions as well. For example, the Bully Seedeater Canary can be found in the African continent. And domesticated canaries can be located in Europe and many other continents around the world.
Are the Canaries Named After the Canary Islands?
Despite popular belief that the Canary Islands were named after the birds, the Canary Birds are named after the Canary Islands, which is quite interesting.
The Canary Islands were discovered in the 15th century, and since these birds were native to these Islands, they were named after the Island. In Latin, Canin means dog, and since there were a lot of wild dogs on the Islands, it was called the Canary Islands.
After the Canary Islands’ name was popularized worldwide, the native bird species of these Islands were named Canary birds or Canaries. So, this is the origin of the name of Canary birds, and it is not the other way around. So, that is a remarkable fact that you all should know about.
Why Are Canary Birds Called Canaries?
Canary Birds are called the Canaries simply because they were found native to the Canary Islands region of Spain. They were discovered in the Island region around the late 1400s in the Canaries and the Madeira and Azores Island regions.
National Bird of the Canary Islands
Often depicted in logos, advertisements, and other international forums as the Canary Islands’ primary representative, the Canaries’ national bird is itself a canary bird.
The Atlantic Canary, also known as the wild canary with a greenish-brown color, is the national bird of the Canary Islands. It is also considered the National Symbol of the Canary Islands and a popular talking point for tourists visiting the Canary Islands. Now, you can find many varieties being bred, but initially, the wild canary was a rare species only found native to the Canaries.
Are There Parrots in the Canary Islands?
There are a lot of canaries in the Canary Islands, as we have established. But what about parrots? Are there any? Well, if you are a bird lover, you will be thrilled to know that yes, there are.
The Canary Islands are home to multitudes of parrot species and even parks dedicated to parrots. You can find a lot of parrot species, wild and in captivity in the Canary Islands, so as a bird watcher, it is going to be a treat for you to visit the region.
What Birds Live in Tenerife?
Tenerife is the capital of the Canary Islands and is home to many rare and exotic species of birds you cannot find in nature around the world. This is why Tenerife is considered a heaven for nature lovers.
Also check out this article: Does Tenerife Have a Zoo? (A Guide to Attractions)
If you want to experience the nature of Tenerife to the fullest, you will want to know about the most commonly found native birds in the region. So let us take a look at them.
Blue Chaffinch
The Blue Chaffinch is a bird endemic to the Island of Tenerife. It is a species of passerine bird in the Finch family and is small-sized and blue. It is considered the national symbol of the Canary Islands and is one of the rarest birds in the world.
Atlantic Canary
The Atlantic Canary or the wild canary is simply a passerine bird species belonging to the genus Serinus of the Finch Family. It is found most commonly in the Canary Islands and has a greenish-brown tint to it. However, you can also find this bird on other Spanish islands.
Laurel Pigeon
Another bird endemic to the Canary Islands is the Laurel Pigeon. It is a long-beaked large-sized bird species of the genus Columba in the Columbidae family of birds. It is considered the main animal symbol of the Island of La Gomera in the Canary Islands.
Tenerife Blue Tit
The Tenerife Blue Tit is endemic to the Island of Tenerife. It is a small passerine bird in the Tit family, Paridae. It is blue in color, small in size, and quite similar overall structure to the Blue Chaffinch. It is another one of the rarest birds in the world.
Tenerife Goldcrest
The Tenerife Goldcrest is not Goldcrest. It is a small passerine bird in the Kinglet family. It is also somewhat like the Goldcrest, but the visual aspects are a bit different. For example, there is a broader black band on the forehead, and also it has a longer bill. But it is a magnificent bird endemic to the Tenerife region.
Where Can I Watch Birds in the Canary Islands?
Birdwatching is one of the main attractions if you are thinking of visiting the Canary Islands. Not sure where you can watch birds in peace and enjoy nature wholeheartedly? Well, here are some of the central birdwatching locations you can take advantage of in the Canary Islands:
Puerto del Rosario
Puerto Del Rosario is a busy town and the capital of Fuerteventura. It is considered one of the most beautiful places to visit in the region and is an apt place for birdwatching due to it inhabiting many varieties of bird species.
Check out this article: How Windy is Fuerteventura?
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Santa Cruz de Tenerife is a busy port city known for the vast population of Atlantic Canaries there. There are also many parrots and other birds in this city so you would be a happy birdwatcher if you visited.
San Sebastián de la Gomera
La Gomera is considered one of the less popular islands in the Canary Islands, but its capital is quite the birdwatching heaven. There are many parks and picnic sites where you can enjoy watching birds and taking in the essence of nature.
Canary Birds
Canary Birds are tiny birds in the Finch family found in the Canary, Azores, and Madeira Islands. These birds are considered songbirds because of their sweet chirping sound. Canary Birds are native to these Islands but can be seen bred in captivity in other regions of the world.
How Long Does a Canary Live?
The domesticated Canaries tend to live longer lives than Wild canaries due to selective breeding. The domestic Canaries can live between 10-12 years on average. However, Wild Canaries might live up to 8-10 years, commonly out of captivity in the wild environment of the Islands.
Are the Canaries Friendly?
The canaries are very easy to keep as pets. Most bird companions require care and attention to live happily, but the Canaries do not. They are very calm birds and are often considered to be friendlier than other species of birds. That is why they are mostly kept as pets around the world.
Can a Canary Bird Live Alone?
Canary Birds are not considered social. They can easily live independently as long as they are fed well and provided a decent amount of room to fly in. They are friendly and low-maintenance birds. If you own one as your pet, they will be more than happy to live alone. But ideally, canaries should be left in the wild.
A bird’s eye view conclusion
The Canary Islands are filled with beautiful bird species as well as canaries of different colors and varieties. So, you are going to have a great time exploring these parts. I hope you learned a lot from this article and that you are going to have a fantastic time bird watching and enjoying yourself with your loved ones once you take your trip to the Canary Islands!
