Serinus

Serinus is a genus of small seed-eating passerine birds in the finch family Fringillidae, commonly known as serins. Members are typically 11–13 cm long with olive-green to yellow plumage and a stout conical bill adapted for cracking seeds. In breeding plumage, males often show brighter yellow markings compared with females.

The genus contains several species, including the European serin (Serinus serinus) and the canary (Serinus canaria). The domestic canary is a domesticated form of the wild canary. Another well-known member is the Syrian serin (Serinus syriacus), found in parts of the Middle East and the Mediterranean region. Serinus species occupy a range of habitats across Europe, the Mediterranean, western Asia, and parts of Africa.

Serins inhabit open habitats such as shrubland, farmland, and edges of woodlands. They feed mainly on seeds but will take buds and occasional insects, especially when feeding young. They are typically gregarious outside the breeding season and may form small flocks.

Breeding involves building a neat, cup-shaped nest usually placed in shrubs. The clutch commonly comprises 3–5 eggs, with both parents sharing incubation and feeding duties.

Conservation status varies by species; most Serinus populations are not globally threatened, though several face pressures from habitat loss, fragmentation, and environmental change in certain regions.