Canary

HISTORY OF THE CANARY

The origins of the domestic canary can be traced back to the wild canary (serinus canaria). It is native to the islands of Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands for which it is named. These are located in the Atlantic Ocean and were possessions of Portugal until seized by Philip II of Spain in 1580. While the Portuguese no doubt captured and sold many of the little singing finches found on these islands, it was the Spanish who are historically credited with domesticating the canary and exporting it throughout their empire, as well as nearby countires in Europe.