Male or female canary?

[kmetzger]

I recently bought what I was told was a male but now I'm not sure. The bird in question is the orangish one on the right. This bird has been building a nest with newspaper and sitting on eggs for ages that turn out to be unfertilized. Now it has built one a second time and does all the brooding. Is it possible that it really is a male?

 

[sourland]

Has it been singing, and how long have you had it?

 

[kmetzger]

Thank you. I've had it for about 2 months. I'll wait awhile to check for singing. It would be good to know if anyone has ever experienced a male canary doing the brooding.

 

[sourland]

I have not, and my gut instinct is that it is a hen. If you have had it 2 months and have not heard it sing, it is female.

 

[Finchbreeder]

Almost certainly female from the information you have supplied.
Male canaries sing - but only for about 4 months per year - when they are in breeding condition - if nesting is taking place the bird should be in breeding condition - but birds can go out of condition for a bit when they move house. My boy is singing madly to his lady - she sits on the nest - he does not.