The domestic canary (Serinus canaria forma domestica) is a domesticated form of the canary, a bird in the finch family Fringillidae. Some biologists consider it a subspecies, thus making it Serinus canaria domestica if correct. Wild canaries are native to Macaronesia, including the Canary Islands (after which the bird is named), the Azores, and Madeira. It was first introduced to mainland Europe by Spanish sailors in the 17th century, and captive breeding begun around this time. Canaries are mostly kept as pets today, but during historical times they were used to test air quality in hazardous coal mines.
