
Cape Canary
The Cape canary (Serinus canicollis) is a small passerine bird in the finch family.
Species insights
Recorded year-round
Recorded in every month, so no month is the wrong month to look. We would rather say that than invent a best time.
Curve from 2,557 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property and not from this province. Single-month spikes are discarded as upload artefacts, and below 50 records we show no curve at all.
Western Cape and beyond
Provinces where Cape Canary is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
2,557 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Cape Canary
Stays that give back
Across the Western Cape
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Succulent Karoo biome · Black backed jackal · Honey badger
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 350 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to Pietersfontein Conservancy
From R 1,155 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Black wildebeest · Bontebok
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 5,636 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Gemsbok · Greater kudu
Gives back to Wolwekraal Nature Reserve
From R 5,060 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Spekboom · Outeniqua yellowwood
Gives back to Revive Knysna
From R 2,310 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Southern right whale
Price on request
Cape Canary recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome
From R 630 a night
Cape Canary recorded here · Fynbos biome · Southern right whale
From R 4,640 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Southern right whale
Price on request
Cape Canary recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,180 a night
Cape Canary recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 220 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
Price on request
Cape Canary recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 680 a night
Cape Canary recorded here · Forest biome
From R 2,170 a night
Cape Canary recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 680 a night
Cape Canary recorded here · Fynbos biome · Cape fur seal
From R 1,560 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Black backed jackal · Honey badger
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 1,500 a night
Cape Canary recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 180 a night
Cape Canary recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom
From R 230 a night
Cape Canary recorded here · Fynbos biome · Spekboom
From R 300 a night
Cape Canary recorded here · Fynbos biome · Spekboom
From R 1,460 a night
Cape Canary recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,590 a night
Cape Canary recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,730 a night
Cape Canary recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome · Spekboom
From R 1,750 a night
Southern right whales, sea cliffs, and Hermanus's harbour town
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Cape Canary
Hosts have recorded the Cape Canary at stays in or beside Cederberg Wilderness Area, Goukamma Nature Reserve and Gamkaberg Nature Reserve.
Best hours of the day
- The first hours after sunrise, and late afternoon. Birds call and feed most in the cool.
- Midday. Quieter, especially in summer heat.
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
Species
Serinus canicollis
Records
2,557
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Cape Canary on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Cape Canary in Western Cape?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Cape Canary at stays in or beside Cederberg Wilderness Area, Goukamma Nature Reserve, Gamkaberg Nature Reserve, Rocherpan Nature Reserve, Table Mountain National Park and De Hoop Nature Reserve and other reserves. A record means a host has seen it on the property or nearby, which makes these the places to base yourself; it is never a guarantee of a sighting on any given day.
Where can you see the Cape Canary in South Africa?
The Cape Canary is most recorded in Western Cape (85% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (6% of records), based on 2,557 iNaturalist observations. 61 places to stay on Spekboom in Western Cape have recorded the Cape Canary on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Cape Canary?
The Cape Canary is recorded throughout the year, so no month is the wrong month to look for it. For the parks where hosts record it most, these are the best seasons they give. Cederberg Wilderness Area: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; Goukamma Nature Reserve: year-round, warm Oct-Apr; Gamkaberg Nature Reserve: Autumn and spring, Mar-May, Sep-Nov; Rocherpan Nature Reserve: Winter and spring for birds and flowers, Jun-Oct. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Cape Canary?
The Cape canary (Serinus canicollis) is a small passerine bird in the finch family. It is a resident breeder in southern Africa and has been introduced to Mauritius and Réunion.
































