Photo: Didier Descouens / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Atlantic Canary
Serinus canaria
Atlantic Canary (Serinus canaria) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 18 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Atlantic Canary (Serinus canaria) is a member of the Fringillidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 24.3 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Fringillidae Finches, Euphonias
- Genus Serinus
- Species canaria
Where it lives
Insular southwestern Palearctic in all habitats: Azores, Madeira and western, central Canary Is. (northwest to central Macaronesia, northwest of northern Africa)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 24.3 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Fringillidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Atlantic Canary is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Atlantic Canary is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Atlantic Canary (Serinus canaria) is a species of bird in the Fringillidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF insular sw Palearctic in all habitats: Azores, Madeira and w, c Canary Is. (nw to c Macaronesia, nw of n Africa).
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 24.3 g, with a wing length of about 7.1 cm and a tail of around 5.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 11,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Atlantic Canary?
The Atlantic Canary is a small bird that weighs around 24.3 g.
Where does the Atlantic Canary live?
The Atlantic Canary is found across Africa with a range covering AF insular sw Palearctic in all habitats: Azores, Madeira and w, c Canary Is. (nw to c Macaronesia, nw of n Africa), where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Atlantic Canary belong to?
The Atlantic Canary (Serinus canaria) belongs to the Fringillidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Atlantic Canary eat?
The Atlantic Canary is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Atlantic Canary migrate?
The Atlantic Canary is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Atlantic Canary endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Atlantic Canary make?
1 real field recording of the Atlantic Canary — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Atlantic Canary's range?
The Atlantic Canary has a mapped global range of about 11,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Fringillidae
Least Concern
Endangered
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Endangered
More in Songbirds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Near Threatened
Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.
Meet the Fringillidae
A field guide to the Fringillidae family — 238 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.