A canary is a small songbird belonging to the finch family, known scientifically as Serinus canaria. Native to the Canary Islands, Azores, and Madeira, these birds are popular for their bright yellow plumage and melodious singing. Canaries are often kept as pets and are appreciated for their cheerful songs, which vary among different breeds. In addition to their beauty and song, canaries have been historically used in mining. Miners would bring canaries into coal mines as a safety measure; if the bird showed signs of distress or died, it indicated the presence of toxic gases, alerting miners to evacuate.