How to tell if a cockatiel is male or female

January 15, These birds can be sexually dimorphic, meaning that sexing a cockatiel is often possible just by looking at it. But what should you be looking for?

Dying to know the sex of your new bird? This article will help you identify the sex of your cockatiel — male or female. If you are planning to get a cockatiel, you might be curious about how to differentiate between males and females. Now, sexing cockatiels can sometimes be a little tricky. However, some of the cockatiel mutations have little or no difference between the males and females. Major visual cues in this regard include:. In males, the stripes are missing altogether.

How to tell if a cockatiel is male or female

It is beautiful and adorable! I understand a blood test would be the best way to find out if the bird is a boy or a girl. My baby Cockatiel is very outgoing, and is super friendly and sweet. I can be vacuuming his cage or around it, it will not be afraid of it, on the contrary, it wants to come near. He gets super loud when I walk away and when I respond by whistling back in the effort to teach it to sing, he responds immediately, loudly and insistently. Could my baby Cockatiel be a male? Also, If you want, I can send a photo. It sounds like you have a very sweet bird regardless of if it is male or female. There is no way to determine sex until 6 months old at the very earliest. A DNA test may not even be accurate on a baby cockatiel. They retain female markings until their first adult molt, which takes place anywhere from 6 months to a year old. While the bird may be losing some feathers now, they will continue to grow back with female colors at this age. If you look at the underside of his long wing feathers, you should see yellow markings, or pearls.

You put my mind at ease. January 15, Going by the colors, as described above, can be a reasonably accurate method of sexing a cockatiel, as long as the bird is an adult and you remember that pieds are out of the game.

Pet Keen is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more. Cockatiels are serious contenders for being one of the most popular birds to own as a pet. And no wonder!

Pet Keen is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more. Cockatiels are serious contenders for being one of the most popular birds to own as a pet. And no wonder!

How to tell if a cockatiel is male or female

Most animals are easy to tell their gender by observing specific parts of their body. Fortunately, cockatiels are not completely monomorphic and have various ways to differentiate their genders. So, how do you tell if a cockatiel is male or female? In most breeds, males have yellow faces with brighter orange cheek marks than females. Essentially, females have yellow markings under their wing feathers and tail feathers, while males lack such spots in their respective body parts. Also, males are more active and louder than females. Read on to learn the various methods you can employ to tell cockatiel genders and their differences.

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The last test that relies on physical anatomy should only be done by a veterinarian. My baby Cockatiel is very outgoing, and is super friendly and sweet. Anyway, good luck! Hi Simone, It sounds like you have a very sweet bird regardless of if it is male or female. Keep in mind that the egg may be fertilized, although in that case pair-bonded activity between two birds should be obvious. When she was a child, she hoped to work in zoos or with wildlife in some way, thanks to her all-consuming love for animals. Check whether your cockatiel has standard plumage. The differentiating characteristics found in the common gray cockatiel are missing in several cockatiel mutations. Attempting to feed the male cockatiel she has bonded with or is trying to bond with. No account yet? They also strut around a lot, with their chests puffed out. Examine the tail closely. Try to rely on several pieces of information, rather than just one attribute, as individual cockatiels have a great deal of physical and behavioral variation. The yellow cheeks of the male are quite distinct.

Cockatiels are an exception. Aside from some mutations such as lutinos, the coloring of male and female cockatiels differs once birds have reached full maturity. Male and female behavior also tends to be distinctive.

To summarize, male cockatiels are always more attention-seeking, active, and interactive. If you want to be certain of the sex identification, provide each bird with a separate cage and nesting box, or point a video camera on the nesting box to record future behavior. Method 1. Unlike the males, they tend to stay away from noise and activity and are often ready to fly away if they face a threat. They also strut around a lot, with their chests puffed out. Female masturbation can be similar, but could also involve backing up against an object with the tail up and body bent forward. Pastleface cockatiels possess similar visual differences as wild cockatiels when it comes to gender identification. Cockatiel Sex Comparison Chart. If it is a female, the pearl markings will be on the new feathers. In males, the stripes are missing altogether.