European Goldfinch American singer Cross - male or female?

[kardarini]

Hello All,

i am new to the forum and to the world of Canary/Finches.

I just purchased a Goldfinch/Canary cross or mule. He is a tiny little guy smaller than your average canary.

My question is .. i have had him for a few days and he is chirping and doing some short trills but no major singing. I am wondering if he is a male and needs more time or if he is actually a she!

He is banded 2010 and i believe just finished his molt.

The previous owner has a video of him here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TceBzujrg8

I also attached a picture of the little guy. Not the greatest picture but any help would be appreciated.

Thank you in advance..

[BigBear0007]

It's a male and he sounds good going by the video!
Give him time and his song will get better and better.
Also if you take good care of him, he can live to be about 15 years old.

My mule Siberian goldfinch x Waterslager is three years old and his song gets better every year!

[kardarini]

That is great news and a relief! Thank you Bigbear. I look forward to many years with him.

[finchmix22]

What a geat song your male made in the video. All my Green Singer finches started singing when I played the video. LOL. They were wondering where the other male was! He looks so much like a grey singer or green singer finch. Very nice.

[kardarini]

Thank you for your kind words and advice. I will just be patient and I am sure he will find his full song.

[kardarini]

Hi Guys,

Brought him outside yesterday and he started singing a bit more.. look forward to him maturing ..nice mellow song not the reptitive high pitch of typical canary..

[kardarini]

Hello Everyone,

so it has been over a month and my canary cross is still not really singing... He/she will start up a bit around mid day at 3:00pm when i put on the water, clean the dishes etc but other than that nothing..

Not sure what else it can be .. we have him/her at the front window with view to outside and a wall on one side of the cage for security.

I cover the cage when it gets dark but we do still stay up watching TV at night.. could it be he is not rested.

i have noticed that he is losing some feathers. It just started.. can he be molting out of season..

he looks healthy and happy any suggestions?

thank you

[BigBear0007]

Hello Everyone,


i have noticed that he is losing some feathers. It just started.. can he be molting out of season..

he looks healthy and happy any suggestions?

thank you

Play some music for him to get him to sing more!
Or other mules singing from YouTube.
My mule isn't really singing much either, give him time.

Also it may be too warm where you have him?
That is why he is molting out of season.
Put him some where cooler,
about 68 degrees and don't cover him at night.
He may be in a soft molt and they are the worse thing,
because it won't stop till he is somewhere cooler!

Hope this helps?

[kardarini]

Hello BigBear,

Thank you for the advice. i will try that. maybe the towel i have over the cage makes it to hot...there is a main heater close to him so the added towel over the cage may be to much

thanks again..

[BigBear0007]

Hello BigBear,

Thank you for the advice. i will try that. maybe the towel i have over the cage makes it to hot...there is a main heater close to him so the added towel over the cage may be to much

thanks again..

Yes defiantly too hot for him!
I may have to put mine in a cooler room also.
He is in the same room with my finches and it has been too warm.
Post some pictures of your boy!
I would like to see him.

[kardarini]

Hi Guys,

Sorry for the delay. here is a pic of my latest addition. He shows all the markings of a male but no major song as of yet.. some tweets and higher pitch change ups..

not the best picture but hard to get a shot of him.. he is always flying around!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/73523105@N ... 717041163/