Companion Birds in Early America

Abstract

Historically, bird keeping in Europe was principally for royalty and clergymen. During the Age of Exploration in the 15th and 16th centuries, Europeans were introduced to the plentiful bird life of the New World. In fact, parrots were the first animals exported to the Old World. When Europeans began to explore the Canary Islands, they also returned to Europe with a small exotic passerine bird: the canary (Serinus canaria). Canaries and New World parrots were initially sold to European aristocracy, but, over time, merchants and other wealthy individuals began to acquire these birds. When Europeans immigrated to North America in the 17th century, they brought with them the practice of bird keeping. By the 19th and early 20th centuries, birds were the most popular indoor pets in the United States. The popularity of pet birds crossed class lines as well as racial and ethnic barriers. Solitary caged birds were common in working-class households, whereas wealthy families often kept a variety of birds in aviaries. Like the televisions and radios of present day, birds brought beautiful song and a cheerful level of noise that was welcome in quiet, early American homes. Songbirds were also considered exemplary examples of monogamy and devoted parenting, which made them ideal role models for middleclass family life.