canaries
Bright singing pets
Canaries is the plural of canary, the small yellow songbird native to the Canary Islands.
Canaries were once kept in coal mines to detect toxic gases—the birds would die before humans noticed danger, giving miners time to escape.
This origin explains the figurative sense: a canary is an early warning signal.
In tech, a canary release tests new software on a small group before wider deployment.
The economic indicators are canaries for recession.
Short, high avian sound
- warbleSing with tremolo
- trillRapid pitch oscillation
- tweetSmall bird's cry
- melodyPleasing sequence of notes
song · whistle · serenade · vocalization · call · morning · cheerful · musical
Bird's complete feather coat
- feathersBird's lightweight covering
- beakHorny avian mouthpart
- wingsLimbs for flight
- songbirdMelodious perching avian
flock · nesting · perch · aviary · birdsong · finch · pet · breeding
Hue between green and orange
- goldElement seventy-nine
- brightEmitting or reflecting light
- lemonAcidic yellow citrus
- saffronCrocus-derived golden spice
amber · buttercup · sunshine · vibrant · golden · daffodil · vivid · plumage
Underground carbon extraction site
- minersOre extractors
- gasFormless, expanding substance
- detectorDevice that senses
- methaneSimplest alkane fuel
danger · alarm · sentinel · indicator · toxic · underground · safety · ventilation
Large enclosure for birds
- enclosureConfined, bordered space
- barsRods, taverns, or measures
- perchResting spot for birds
- swingSuspended recreational seat
feeder · waterer · tray · liner · door · latch · mesh · cleaning
Ocean bordering Europe
- SpainIberian Peninsula country
- archipelagoChain of scattered islands
- TenerifeLargest Canary Island
- LanzaroteEasternmost Canary Island
volcanic · tourism · subtropical · endemic · wines · beaches · destination
chirp
Short, high avian sound
melody · song · whistle · serenade · vocalization · call · morning · cheerful · musical · soprano
plumage
Bird's complete feather coat
songbird · flock · nesting · perch · aviary · birdsong · finch · pet · breeding · molt
yellow
Hue between green and orange
saffron · amber · buttercup · sunshine · vibrant · golden · daffodil · vivid · plumage · breeding
coalmine
Underground carbon extraction site
methane · danger · alarm · sentinel · indicator · toxic · underground · safety · ventilation · hazard
aviary
Large enclosure for birds
swing · feeder · waterer · tray · liner · door · latch · mesh · cleaning · habitat
Atlantic
Ocean bordering Europe
- SpainIberian Peninsula country
- archipelagoChain of scattered islands
- TenerifeLargest Canary Island
Lanzarote · volcanic · tourism · subtropical · endemic · wines · beaches · destination
- canaries in the coal mineEarly indicators of danger
- canaries in coal minesBirds detecting poisonous air
- canaries in a coal mineEarly indicator of danger
- miner's canariesGas-detecting tunnel birds
- miners' canariesGas-detecting tunnel birds