So you want to buy a canary, but never had one before! You know they sing, but you've never heard one singing. Many people pick out their first canary by just looking at it. Some of these birds never sing, others make noises that the owner thinks is singing. So how do you make sure you get a real, singing canary?

Here are some facts about canaries to keep in mind. Only male canaries sing, but males and females look alike. Only adult males (over 6 months in age) really sing, but there is no external difference from a young bird that is 4 weeks old just out of the nest and an old bird. Both male and female young (less than 6 months) might sing, but it is a softer "baby song," not the final song it will develop. If you buy a young canary, there is a chance you will end up with a hen that will soon stop singing even the baby song. If the bird is a male, it will get louder and could become harsh and irritating to listen to, especially in the spring during mating season. Finally, canaries don't sing while molting (replacing feathers) which usually occurs during the summer and can take a couple of months.

To avoid getting stuck with a non-singing bird or one that has an annoying song, listen to the bird before you buy or adopt! If the bird doesn't sing while you are visiting, come back again at another time, preferably early morning. There will always be another canary available someday, so don't get pressured into getting a bird that won't sing for you if you really want a good song bird. A healthy song canary should sing on and off for much of the day when not molting, so if you visit for an hour during the daytime and the bird never sings, that tells you it is not a free singer even if the seller insists it is a mature male with a good song.

The first thing to recognize is the difference between song and other noises that all canaries make, such as calls and chirps. A song lasts more than a second, the longer the better. Some canaries sing a very short song, but a one or two second trill is so poor that if that is all you hear, treat it as a non-song. Even baby song will usually consist of at least a few seconds of continuous sound.

Baby song and the occasional song that a mature hen might sing are short songs with little range. Dynamic range is the difference between the high and low notes. Baby song is a mumbly babble, while the mature male song should be a clear sequence of undulating notes. One way for the novice to distinguish these songs is to look at the bird's throat while it sings. It should be puffed out more than when it is not singing. The mouth may be open or closed while singing, it depends on the breed and type of song. Open beak songs are louder, some birds do both.

A mature song should last for 5 or more seconds and not have interruptions. The end should taper off, not cut off abruptly. Of course, don't startle or interrupt the bird, it is best to sit back and not make any movements or noise yourself. A good, free singing bird should start on his own, although music, your whistling or non-startling background noises may get him started. If the seller knows what they are doing, the bird will be staged in an area where you can view and listen to the bird without distractions.

Good song should have a lot of variety of sounds, not a monotonous sequence of the same notes. Depending on the breed, there may be a wide dynamic range of pitch. There should be at least some volume range, usually a change from soft to louder then back to soft. The order of the notes should change, if the bird sings the same sequence each time, it may get boring. A great bird will innovate and surprise you with new notes and arrangements!

The most important aspect of song is what pleases you. Rather than worry about the right volume, tone and notes, all that really matters is, do you like what you hear? That is why you should not ask sellers which bird has the best song, it is subjective and they may have different preferences for music than you. Also, breeders keep their favorite birds to breed, so there is probably something they don't like about the ones for sale. What they hate you may love and vice versa, so learn to decide for yourself!

Now for your assignment, search You Tube for "singing canary"
http://www.youtube.com/
Some of the birds posted there are better than others, notice the throat extensions while the birds sing. Most of the recordings are poor, the cameras are hand-held and shaky, there is often background noise. View as many as you can to find good song examples.

For comparison, here is an example of older baby song and non-singing chirps by another bird in the background. This bird's song is still developing and is too young to know how loud it may get and how well it will eventually sing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLLIDxrNaHE

Adult hens rarely sing so when they do, it can be confusing. Here is a good recording of a singing hen. Note how the song is squeaky and thin compared to the good adult male songs that can be found.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRhr_Mm4gpI

Not all the birds on You Tube videos are properly identified. Many are called American Singers that do not sound like the birds typically in an American Singer show. So don't believe all the titles or the posted comments. Rather than suggest a particular video, watch several to learn how to notice the differences. Practice evaluating the canaries on You Tube and you will be better prepared to select your own bird!