How to Distinguish an Adult Male Cockatiel From a Female

Male cockatiels generally sport bright orange cheek patches.

Although there is no definitive way to visually identify the gender of a young cockatiel, once it reaches adulthood the differences become more apparent. Distinguishing an adult male cockatiel from an adult female can be done by taking into consideration the different behaviors and physical characteristics. As with most birds of the animal kingdom, the adult male cockatiel will usually exhibit brighter markings and varied personality traits that differ from that of its adult female counterpart.

Instructions

1. Look at the cheek patches on your cockatiel. Male cockatiels will usually have bright orange cheek patches. Cheek patches are bold circles on both sides of the cockatiel's face that range from pale to very bright orange. If they are barely noticeable, then you are more than likely seeing an adult female.

2. Listen closely to your cockatiels vocalizations. A male will usually spend a lot of time chattering, while a female is generally more reserved. Although a female cockatiel does have the ability to speak, most do not. But males are usually highly vocal, constant whistlers, and engage in repetitive chatter.

3. Watch your cockatiel and notice if he is a bobber. Head bobbing is usually a dead give away that your cockatiel is an adult male. Adult females do not engage in head bobbing, because this is a male trait that usually centers on mating rituals.

4. Check your cockatiel's tail for striped bars. If you look underneath the tail of your cockatiel you will notice that it is either a solid color, or that it is striped. A solid tail denotes an adult male bird, while the striped bars represent that of an adult female.

5. Notice if your cockatiel has spotty patches. While adult male cockatiels have spots only on the primary flight feathers, an adult female has spots on both the primary and secondary feathers. These spots, usually white in color, are easily seen.

Tips & Warnings

• The only way to absolutely know for certain whether or not your cockatiel is male or female is to have a DNA test performed. These tests can be given by your avian veterinarian or breeder, and will positively identify the gender of your bird.

• Cockatiels have a lifespan of approximately 30 years, so be sure that you are ready to make a lifetime commitment before purchasing.

• Be very careful about introducing a new cockatiel into the cage of another if you are unsure of the genders. Male cockatiels will fight, at times leaving one of them physically harmed. If you notice a continuous battle going on in the cage, separate the birds immediately. They will probably need to live separately from each other, permanently.