Instructions
Observe the bird to see if it sings. Male canaries typically sing while females do not, though this is is not a guaranteed method of determining the sex. Females do occasionally sing, though it sounds more like tweets and trills rather than full-blown "songs." Males also sing less in the winter months when they are molting.
Pick up your canary to determine its sex by looking at the bird's vent. Use your palm to cover the canary's wings and back and place your middle and index fingers around the bird's neck. Use your remaining fingers to support the bird's feet and body. Do this as gently as possible to avoid startling or stressing the bird, as a canary that feels threatened may bite.
Blow gently on the canary's vent to move the feathers and subsequently inspect the sex organs. If the canary is male you will notice a small swelling next to the vent. This is the bird's penis. The vent itself is very narrow. A female canary's vent is round and flat. The skin surrounding the vent is either flat or slightly raised.
How to Tell the Difference Between a Male Canary & a Hen
Canaries are birds native to the Canary Islands off the coast of Africa. They are generally bright yellow in color but do come in other hues, including orange and white. Determining the sex of a canary can be difficult as there are very few physical differences between male and female canaries, though knowing the sex is essential to some breeders/owners as the male canaries are the songbirds of the two. Use proper handling methods to find out the sex of your canary.