Yellow canary facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yellow canary |
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|---|---|
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| In Northern Cape, South Africa | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Crithagra
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| Species: |
flaviventris
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| Synonyms | |
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Serinus flaviventris |
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The yellow canary (Crithagra flaviventris) is a small passerine bird. It belongs to the true finch family. This bird lives in many parts of southern Africa. It has also been brought to Ascension and St Helena islands.
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About the Yellow Canary
The yellow canary is a small, bright bird. It is known for its pretty yellow feathers. These birds are often found in groups. They like to eat seeds. You might hear their cheerful calls and songs.
What Does the Yellow Canary Look Like?
A yellow canary is usually about 10 centimeters (4 inches) long. Male birds are mostly yellow. In some areas, they might have olive-colored backs. Their bellies and tail sides are bright yellow.
Female yellow canaries look a bit different. They have grey-brown backs. Their wings are black with yellow feathers. They also have a pale stripe above their eyes. Their bellies are white with brown stripes. Young canaries look like females but have more stripes.
It's easy to tell this bird apart from the yellow-fronted canary. The yellow canary does not have black marks on its face. Its beak is also not as thick as other similar birds in Africa.
Where Do Yellow Canaries Live?
Yellow canaries live in areas called karoo. They also live in scrublands near coasts or in mountain valleys. These birds build their nests in bushes. Their nests are small and shaped like a cup.
Yellow Canary Calls and Songs
This bird is very common. It likes to be with other canaries. Its call sounds like chissick or cheree. The yellow canary's song is a warbled sound. It often sings zee-zeree-chereeo.
Yellow Canary Family Tree
Scientists give every animal a special two-part name. This helps everyone know exactly which animal they are talking about. The yellow canary's scientific name is Crithagra flaviventris.
How the Yellow Canary Got Its Name
A German scientist named Johann Friedrich Gmelin first described the yellow canary in 1789. He gave it the name Loxia flaviventris. He noted that it came from the Cape of Good Hope in Africa.
The name flaviventris comes from Latin words. Flavus means "yellow." Venter means "belly." So, flaviventris means "yellow-bellied."
Changing Names: Why Do They Do That?
For a long time, the yellow canary was in a group called Serinus. But scientists keep learning more about birds. In 2012, a study showed that the Serinus group was too mixed up. To make things clearer, scientists moved the yellow canary to a different group. This group is called Crithagra. An English bird expert named William John Swainson first suggested this group in 1827.
Different Types of Yellow Canaries
There are four main types, or subspecies, of the yellow canary. These are slightly different versions of the same bird. They live in different parts of Africa:
- C. f. damarensis: Found in southwest Angola, Namibia, Botswana, and central north South Africa.
- C. f. flaviventris: Lives in the very south of Namibia and west/southwest South Africa.
- C. f. guillarmodi: Found in the highlands of Lesotho.
- C. f. marshalli: Lives in southeast Botswana, central/northeast South Africa, and the lowlands of Lesotho.
