A canary often brings to mind a little bird in brilliant yellow. But what colour is it in the wild, and where did its familiar shade come from?
Publicité
Publicité
The wild canary, Serinus canaria, is mostly yellow-green, with brownish streaks on its back. It lives in the Canary Islands, the Azores and Madeira. The male has brighter yellow on his forehead and face, while the female has less yellow underneath.
The vivid yellow of domestic canaries is the result of selection in captivity. Earlier research placed the first entirely yellow birds in Germany around 1677. But one study suggests an earlier origin: an Italian painting from the 1490s may already show yellow canaries.
In yellow domestic canaries, diet also plays a part. Pigments from food are transformed and deposited in the feathers, and a poor diet can make the colour less intense.
