Written by the Birdsville team. Last updated October 2026.
Looking for canaries for sale in Sydney? Birdsville sells many canary breeds, including Border canaries, at 684 Botany Road, Alexandria NSW 2015, servicing the Eastern Suburbs and Inner South Sydney. Our breeds change from time to time, so there’s often something new to see. A canary is the perfect pet bird. Males sing all day long, hens are quiet and gentle, and both are calm, easy birds to keep. We’re a small business that does things in a big way. Nobody tells us how to run things, so we keep our birds and products the best of the best.
What You Need to Know About Canaries
Cage: Canaries are small but active, and they fly side to side, not up and down. Choose the largest cage you can afford, ideally a long one at least 60 cm wide, with room for perches, toys and food and water dishes. The bigger the cage, the happier the bird.
Diet: Feed a quality canary seed mix, fresh greens and egg and biscuit. Our top pick is Birdsville Blends Finch & Canary (https://petsville.com.au/products/birdsville-blends-finch-canary-500g).
Water: Fresh, clean water every day.
Handling: Canaries don’t need handling to be happy, but they’re relaxed birds that can become quite tame and comfortable around people.
For full care details, including cage setup, diet and keeping your canary healthy, see our canary care page [Canary care page link].
Visit our Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/BirdsvilleRosebery/), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/petsvillesydney/) and TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@birdsvillepets) pages for updated photos, live updates and what we currently have in stock.
Why You Should Get a Canary
Male canaries are famous singers, and a happy male will fill your home with song all day.
For a small bird, canaries have a very relaxed nature. Unlike many small birds, which tend to be nervous and flighty, they can become quite tame and comfortable with people.
Canaries are easy to look after and don’t need daily handling, so they suit busy households.
They’re small and quiet apart from their song, which makes them great for apartments.
Why a Canary Might Not Be Right for You
If you want a bird to cuddle and carry around, a canary isn’t the best choice. They’re happiest being watched and listened to, not handled.
Two males kept together often fight, so you’ll need to plan your birds carefully if you want more than one.
Canaries are sensitive to draughts, heat and sudden temperature changes, so cage placement matters.
Seed husks and droppings mean the cage needs daily cleaning.
Male or Female: Which Canary Should You Get?
If you want a singing bird, get a male. Males sing all day long. If you’d prefer a quiet bird, a hen is better suited to your needs.
Hens can usually be housed together happily, but keeping more than one male in the same cage can be a problem, as males are known to fight. A single male kept on his own often sings his best.
Canary Breeds
There are many canary breeds, and we have different ones in at different times. The main breeds include:
Border canary: a popular, rounded, medium sized canary, and a great all rounder.
Gloster canary: a small canary, known for the “corona” variety with a neat mop of head feathers.
Norwich canary: a large, heavy set canary with a broad head.
Yorkshire canary: a tall, slim canary, sometimes called the “gentleman of the fancy”.
Lizard canary: known for its unusual spangled, scale like pattern.
Roller canary: bred mainly for its soft, rolling song.
Canary Diet at a Glance
Seed: Feed a quality canary seed mix. Our top pick is Birdsville Blends Finch & Canary (https://petsville.com.au/products/birdsville-blends-finch-canary-500g). It’s 70% canary seed, with niger, hulled oats, vegetables, herbs and greens already mixed in. Birdsville Blends are bagged fresh on site with a high turnover, so the seed never sits on a shelf, and buying from the people who mix it means better value. Be wary of many supermarket and chain store brands, which can be low quality and have filler seed added that affects the health and vitality of your bird.
Here’s a tip from our team. Add extra niger seed to really get your canaries going, and feed plenty of hulled oats in winter, especially if you plan on breeding.
Egg and biscuit: a great source of extra protein, and especially important when canaries are raising young. Try Shep’s Egg & Biscuit (https://petsville.com.au/products/sheps-egg-biscuit-500g).
Grit and calcium: Canaries need a steady supply of calcium. Offer shell grit (https://petsville.com.au/products/shell-grit-5kg) and a cuttlebone (https://petsville.com.au/products/avi-one-cuttlebone-with-stainless-steel-clip). Always keep the grit in a separate dish from the seed, never mixed in.
Greens: bok choy, spinach, seeding grass, silverbeet, broccoli and cucumber.
Fruit: apple and orange in small amounts.
Vitamins: add a vitamin supplement such as Vetafarm Multivet (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-multivet-50ml) to the water to keep your canary in pristine condition.
Sexing & Refund Policy
It’s almost impossible to be 100% sure of a canary’s sex. Most males sing and most hens don’t, but some hens do sing and some males don’t. Because of this, we can’t offer a refund, credit or exchange based on the sex of the bird. All our animals come with a health guarantee.
Canary Availability
We sell many canary breeds, and the breeds in store change throughout the year. Call us or check our Facebook, Instagram and TikTok to see what’s currently in. If you’re after a particular breed, ask our team and we’ll let you know when one comes in.
Canary Supplies & In-Store Help
Cages, seed, grit, perches and everything else your canary needs are available in-store, and we regularly run bird and cage specials. Ask our team about setup deals when you choose your canary, and we’ll help you put together the right cage and supplies so nothing gets forgotten. You can also browse canary food and supplies on Petsville (https://petsville.com.au/collections/seed-1) before you visit.
Taking Your New Canary Home
Bring your canary home in a small, secure carry box, and go straight home. We sell carry cages in-store. Never leave your canary in a parked car, even for a few minutes.
Sydney seasonal tip: Canaries are sensitive to heat. In summer, travel in the cooler part of the day with the air conditioning on, and keep the cage out of direct afternoon sun at home. In winter, keep the cage out of draughts.
Once home, keep your new canary in a separate cage for 4 to 6 weeks before introducing it to your other birds, and watch males closely, as they can fight.
Worm your canary every 6 months if it lives indoors, or every 3 months in an outdoor aviary. Vetafarm Wormout Gel (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-wormout-gel-50ml) goes in the drinking water. Control lice and mites with Avitrol Mite & Lice Spray (https://petsville.com.au/products/fidos-avitrol-bird-mite-and-lice-spray-125ml), removing food and water first and avoiding the eyes.
Clean the cage regularly, and never let old food build up in the cage, on perches or in feeders.
Canaries for Sale Sydney: Frequently Asked Questions
What canary breeds do you have for sale?
We sell many canary breeds, such as Border, Gloster, Norwich, Yorkshire, Lizard and Roller canaries, and the breeds in store change throughout the year. Call (02) 9669 1766 or check our Facebook, Instagram and TikTok to see what’s in, or ask us to let you know when a particular breed arrives.
Do female canaries sing?
Mostly no. Male canaries are the singers and often sing all day, while hens usually just chirp, so a male is best if you want song. Some hens do sing a little and some males don’t, which is why canaries can’t be sexed with 100% certainty by song alone.
Can you keep one canary on its own?
Yes. Canaries are happy kept alone, and a single male often sings his best with no other birds around. If you keep more than one, hens can live together, but two males in the same cage often fight. Keep males apart, or in a large aviary with plenty of space.
How long do canaries live?
Pet canaries commonly live about 10 years, and many live longer with good care. A quality seed mix, fresh greens, egg and biscuit, a clean cage and regular worming all help. Keep your canary out of draughts and direct sun, as canaries are sensitive to sudden temperature changes.
What do canaries eat?
Canaries eat a seed mix based mainly on canary seed, plus fresh greens, a little fruit, and egg and biscuit for extra protein. Our top pick is Birdsville Blends Finch & Canary, which is 70% canary seed with niger and hulled oats. Always provide fresh water, grit and a calcium source.
Are canaries easy to look after?
Yes, canaries are one of the easiest pet birds to keep. They don’t need handling, they’re calm and quiet apart from the male’s song, and they’re happy in a cage with good seed, greens and fresh water. They do need regular cleaning, and a long cage so they can fly.
Visit Birdsville for Canaries in Sydney
Come and see our canaries at Birdsville, 684 Botany Road, Alexandria NSW 2015, on the corner of Gardeners Road and Botany Road, with parking out the front and on the street. Visit us or call (02) 9669 1766 to ask which breeds are in stock. Birdsville has been trading in Sydney since 1985, and we believe we’re now the oldest bricks and mortar bird shop still open in Australia.
