The Canary in the Wizarding World

The canary is a small, non-magical bird that holds a unique significance within the wizarding world, primarily as a subject and outcome of Transfiguration and Conjuration. While ordinary in nature, canaries are famously associated with magical confections developed by Fred Weasley and George Weasley and have been magically conjured as instruments of attack. Their frequent use in various forms of magic suggests they are a common and relatively simple creature for wizards to magically manipulate or create.

• Canary Creams: One of the most famous applications involving canaries is the Canary Cream, a magical sweet invented by Fred Weasley and George Weasley as part of their Skiving Snackboxes line for Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. These treats appear to be ordinary custard cream biscuits. However, upon consumption, the eater momentarily transfigures into a large canary. After a minute, the person molts their yellow feathers and returns to their normal human state. Neville Longbottom was an unwitting test subject for a Canary Cream in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, transforming into a canary in the Gryffindor common room to the great amusement of his fellow students.
• Conjured Canaries: Canaries have been used offensively through Conjuration. In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, a distraught Hermione Granger, after seeing Ron Weasley with Lavender Brown, successfully conjured a flock of canaries from the tip of her wand. She then used the jinx `Oppugno` to command the birds to violently attack Ron, pecking and scratching him. This display of magic is a testament to Hermione's advanced skills in Charms, as conjuring living creatures is known to be difficult.
• Subject of Transfiguration: The canary appears to be a common subject for students learning or experimenting with Transfiguration. While hiding the Half-Blood Prince's Potions Book in the Room of Requirement, Harry Potter noted a cage that he presumed had once held the skeleton of a five-legged creature that “some student had tried to Transfigure… probably into a canary.” This implies that turning various creatures (or parts of them) into canaries is a known practice or exercise at Hogwarts.

• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Hermione Granger's conjured canaries are depicted as small, glowing, golden birds that fly around her head before she directs them to attack Ron Weasley with the `Oppugno` jinx (film).
• The scene where Neville Longbottom eats a Canary Cream and transforms is also included in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film).