Male or female canary: which one should you pick if you want a bird that sings?
Published by Planète Pets · managing editor: Clément Lacaille · how our guides are written
For a rich, regular song, choose a male canary: in this species, only the male develops a complex song, which he uses for courtship and territorial defence, while the female sings little, briefly, and in a much simpler form. Our species comparisons are gathered in the bird accessories section.
Contents · 5 sections
Why does only the male really sing?
Fernando Nottebohm and Arthur Arnold established as early as 1976, in the journal Science, that several brain areas controlling song are markedly larger in the male canary than in the female — a measurable and lasting anatomical difference (see the study). This is not merely a behavioural preference: the very ability to produce a complex song rests on a structural difference in the brain, specific to song-learning passerines like the canary.
How do you recognise a male before buying?
- At a breeder specialised in song canaries (Harz, Border), males are identified early through their demonstrative vocal behaviour from just a few months old.
- At a general pet shop, visual sexing remains unreliable before puberty: asking whether the bird has already been heard singing is the most concrete cue.
- A singing male from a selected line typically costs €40 to €90 from a specialised breeder, versus €25 to €40 at a general pet shop with no guarantee of sex.
Is the song constant all year round?
No: singing drops noticeably during the moult, a period when the bird spends its energy on renewing its feathers rather than on courtship, then picks up again as days lengthen in spring. A male that sings little in the depths of winter is therefore not necessarily a poor choice.
Should you avoid a female for that reason?
Not if song is not the priority: a female canary remains a lively, sociable bird, often sought as a companion for a male for breeding purposes. She suits a household that values presence and plumage colour over vocal performance just as well.
Frequently asked questions
Can a female canary still sing a little?
Yes, occasionally and in a much simpler form than a male — a short warble rather than an elaborate song. It is never comparable to the courtship song of a healthy male.
Does singing really drop during the moult?
Yes, in both males and females, the moult comes with a general drop in vocal activity; this is a normal phase, not a sign of illness.
Can a canary be reliably sexed before purchase?
Visual sexing alone remains uncertain in a young canary. A specialised breeder who has already heard the bird sing, or DNA sexing offered by some avian vets, gives far more certainty than a simple look in a pet shop. Find all our guides on the bird hub.
See it in the Planète Pets shop: Bendable multicolour cotton rope perch, 40 cm (€21.90) · the whole shop
This guide is part of Planète Pets’s Birds universe. Our advice is general in nature: for any health concern, your veterinarian remains the only reference.
