Everyone knows about Canaries thanks to their childhood relationship with Tweety bird, but owners appreciate the sweet birds because of their ability to sing beautifully. While Canary birds are full of sounds and beautiful singing voices, they do not talk but do really well at singing. This is one of the primary reasons people love to have a Canary as a pet, although some will end up with a Canary that doesn’t sing at all, and there is a good reason.
What Sound Does a Canary Make?
While the Canary can’t mimic the human voice, they make various sounds. These birds use their vocalizations to communicate, so by understanding and learning the sounds it makes, you can understand what your Canary is trying to say.
The sounds will depend on the bird’s gender, breed, and age, but many of their sounds will appear similar. Canaries can make sounds such as chirps, shrills, chattering, warbling, squeaking, and singing.
Male and Female Canaries
Canaries portray different sounds based on their gender. It is said that the region of the Canary’s brain responsible for song production, the telencephalic nucleus1, is bigger in males than in females. This explains why male canaries have a wider variety of vocalizations. Some female canaries can only chirp, but some can sing. The females that can sing usually have a small vocal range or can only sing short songs.
Different breeds of canaries excel at a particular vocalization. For example, the American Singer has a high-pitched singing sound, while the Waterslager sings more with chattering notes.
Singing Phases
Canaries also go through three singing phases as they grow up. The first phase starts at around 3 months of age. As you can imagine, the singing isn’t very good and is mostly made up of small chirps and warbles as the Canary learns to sing. Most females stay at this phase while the males move on and progress. After 6 months, the Canary will grow in confidence and experiment and try new sounds. By 8–12 months during the last phase, the Canary is an experienced vocalist.
The season will also determine how much a Canary sings. During the summer, which is molting season, Canaries will quieten down to conserve their energy. This can often be mistaken for sadness by an owner, but it’s only a pause in their singing.
Why Do Canaries Sing?
The males do most of the singing to attract females. When a Canary begins to sing, it is a sign that the bird has reached sexual maturity, typically at 6 months of age and older. However, canaries don’t sing all year round because there are some seasons and circumstances when they won’t sing.
A Canary fed a properly balanced diet will typically sing more frequently throughout the day. They will usually sing more during the warmer temperatures. Once the molting season begins, the frequency of canaries singing will reduce.
Canary birds learn to sing by listening to older other birds that are around. Some Canary owners say that talking, whistling, and playing music improves their singing, and most breeders will train their males to help guarantee that they will sing.
Why Has My Canary Bird Stopped Singing?
There are several reasons why your Canary may have stopped singing. While it is unusual for them not to sing at times, some reasons may require attention.
A Canary that sings every day is a sign of a happy Canary. So, to keep your Canary happy, healthy, and singing, here are some tips you can follow:
Conclusion
Canaries are known to be songbirds, but they’re incapable of talking. The male predominantly does all the singing to attract a female, while the female makes gentle chirps and warbles. Some factors will determine how much a Canary sings, such as the age, breed, gender, season, and health of the bird. A healthy male Canary will usually sing every day, but if it stops singing abruptly, it’s best to visit the veterinarian.
See also:
- Canary vs Parakeet: The Differences (With Pictures)
- American Singer Canary: Pictures, Care Guide, Temperament & Traits
Featured Image Credit: Chris Allen, Pixabay
