The Finch family is a large grouping of birds that includes many subspecies. Three of the most popular breeds for domestication and pet purposes are the Canary, the Zebra Finch, and the Society Finch.

Native to the Canary and Madeira Islands, the domestic Canary has been bred in captivity since the 17th century. They became very popular in Europe and have been found in homes ever since. Canaries were also used by miners who wanted to detect toxic amounts of carbon monoxide and methane in mine shafts. The birds, who were both small and sensitive, would often exhibit abnormal behavior or die before the gas could affect humans, thus becoming a warning system.

Known for their singing abilities, it's normally only the male that will sing. Canaries are bred for their different colors (yellow being the most popular), shapes, and song abilities. The popular Song Canaries are the Roller, the American Singer, and the Russian Singer.

Unlike many Finches, Canaries are solitary birds, and are okay being alone in their cages. They don't need a partner bird for company. But, they are like most Finches in that they don't usually bond closely with humans and so may be a good choice for someone who doesn't want to invest hours playing with their bird.

The two most popular domestic Finches are the Zebra Finch and the Society Finch. Like its name suggests, the Zebra Finch male is marked with black and white bars on its throat and breast. The Society bird, however, is known for its relatively social behavior patterns.

The Social Finch exists only in captivity and has been bred for centuries. They exhibit very few neurosis often found in other birds not comfortable with cage life, adjust well to group bird living, and are relatively calm around humans.

Finches are a good choice for families unable to spend time every day nurturing and engaging their birds. They're also a fairly quiet bird, a nice fit for those living in close apartment quarters.

Finches like a cage large enough to fly in, a few perches to sit on, a quiet corner, and a healthy, varied diet.

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Canary and Finch - Birds for Sale