I have 2 cockatiels.... still don't know for sure what the s*x?

Question

Does anybody have any pictures of male and female gray cockatiels? I know that the behavior can sometimes tell you what the s*x is.. and the color of the cheeks... but i have also heard that having yellow on head, around beak and face could also tell ... i dont know if my 2 c***s have bright orange cheeks or dull.... i have never seen another bird to compare...

Answer 1

Male cockatiel:  http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/co...

Female cockatiel:  http://www.parrotu.com/new-birds-12-19-2...

The males usually have bright yellow heads and orange cheeks.  The females are usually more gray and not very colorful.  If you need more pictures to look at just google search on images for male and female cockatiels.  Good luck! :)

Answer 2

The safest, and only accurate method of sexing a young bird is by DNA testing. Sample kits are mailed to you, free of charge - you return the sample, and payment (less than $25), and they will give you the results. DNA can be tested with a tiny sample of blood (obtained by clipping a toenail just at the quick), a few feathers plucked from the chest of the bird, and egg shells. http://www.avianbiotech.com/

All cockatiels look female when they are young. At around 6 months, they will go through their first molt, during which most of their feathers are shed and replaced with adult feathers. With the exception of some mutations, it is generally very easy to determine s*x by the markings on your bird.

Adult females have barring, or horizontal stripes on the underside of their tail feathers. These can be seen clearly while the bird is facing you, with very bright light, or sunlight, directly behind the bird. Females also have a single pea-sized dot on each of their flight feathers (the longest wing feathers).

For normal greys, the male with have bright cheek patches, and a predominantly yellow crest, while females will have a duller, or grayed cheek patch, and predominantly grey crest with yellow only at the tip. For white-faced grays, the males have bright white cheek patches, while most females have little if any white on the cheek area.

Determining s*x is more difficult in some of the mutations, like pearls, who have a fish scale-like pattern. Males eventually lose most, if not all, of their pearling as they age and molt feathers.

Behavior between the sexes is also different, though there can be exceptions. Males are vocal. They tend to sing, whistle and imitate, and are usually more affectionate and playful than females, who tend to be shy and relatively quiet.