Canaries are relatively common pets, particularly because of their beautiful song.
Learn more about what makes canaries unique below. The Canary in the Coal Mine - Sometimes people use the phrase “the canary in the coal mine” when referencing a warning for an emergency. This reference come from early coal mining. Before modern testing, coal mines used canaries to warn miners when dangerous gasses escaped. If the canaries showed signs of distress or illness the miners knew to evacuate. Canary Yellow - The term “canary yellow” comes from the bright yellow color of some domestic varieties. Humans breed domestic canaries for their bright color and beautiful song.