Of course, a DNA test is the only way to be 100% certain about whether your cockatiel is a male or a female.

However, there are other ways you can identify your cockatiel’s sex without a DNA test.

These methods are less reliable, but they can still give you a strong indication of your cockatiel’s gender.

There are 2 main ways you can differentiate between male and female cockatiels:

1. Physical appearances

2. Behavioural characteristics

With wild cockatiels, you can correctly assume their gender based on appearances 99% of the time.

But since captive-bred (pet) cockatiels are so diverse in colour, mutations, and general appearances, it’s a lot harder to identify their gender.

This article will teach you the physical and behavioural characteristics of both female and male cockatiels.

By the end of this article, you will be more certain of your cockatiel’s gender.

Quick Navigation:

• 5 Physical Differences Between Male & Female Cockatiels
  • 1) Markings Beneath The Feathers
  • 2) Head Colours & Colour Vibrancy
  • 3) Width Of The Hips
  • 4) Body Plumage Colour
  • 5) Pearls (Unique To Pearl Cockatiel Mutations)
• 4 Behavioural Differences Between Male & Female Cockatiels
  • 1) Mimicking, Whistling, & Talking
  • 2) Courting Behaviour
  • 3) General Attitude
  • 4) Eggs & Nesting
• Conclusion
• Sources

5 Physical Differences Between Male & Female Cockatiels

Sorry to say, but albino and pied cockatiels are virtually impossible to identify gender based on appearances.

This is because they simply don’t show normal gender characteristics.

Pied cockatiels are especially difficult because their markings, colours, and patterns are completely random.

Male and female albinos are just plain white, with no noticeable differences.

Just to be clear, the albino cockatiels are completely white all over, while whiteface cockatiels are grey and white.

Whiteface cockatiels show their gender attributes while albino cockatiels do not.

Lots of people easily get the two mixed up.

For most other mutations (lutino, pearl, cinnamon, grey/wild type, etc), you will typically be able to gender them based on appearances.

In order to do this accurately, your cockatiel will need to have had their first moult at 6 – 12 months.

Cockatiels don’t show their gendered traits until after they’ve left their pre-pubescent stage, which happens during or shortly after their first moult.

Most young/juvenile cockatiels resemble females, even when they’re males.

The physical attributes discussed below will be more evident after your cockatiel reaches 1 year of age, which will make accurately determining their gender much easier.

1) Markings Beneath The Feathers

One of the most noticeable differences between male and female cockatiels is the markings beneath the feathers.

Female cockatiels have strips or circles marked on the underside of the flight and tail feathers.

Male cockatiels on the other hand just have a solid colour, without any markings.

The markings are also visible when the feather has moulted.

Here’s one of my cockatiels flight feathers, as you can see, there are no markings along the feather, indicating that he’s a male:

If this was a female cockatiel, there would be strips or circular markings along the feather.

Juvenile cockatiels will also have feather markings, but they will fade after the first few moults if it’s a male, and they’ll remain if it’s a female.

Feather markings are more visible on grey/wild-type cockatiels, but can still be seen on most mutations.

To see these markings on a lutino cockatiel, you may need to shine a light as they’re very faded but still visible.

2) Head Colours & Colour Vibrancy

In the wild, it’s pretty easy to identify the gender of a cockatiel just by looking at their faces.

Male cockatiels have yellow heads with a bright orange cheek patch, females have mostly grey heads with a much more faded/diluted orange cheek patch.

All juvenile cockatiels will have grey heads until their first moult.

If the juvenile cockatiel turns out to be a male, it will develop a yellow head after its first moult.

Female juveniles will keep their mostly grey heads throughout adulthood.

However, you cannot identify the gender of lutino, pied, or pearl cockatiel mutations this way because both genders will typically have yellow heads.

Whiteface cockatiels are also a little different.

Instead of having a yellow head, male whiteface cockatiels model a white head/face while females have a grey head to match their body colour.

Here’s a good comparison between male and female whiteface cockatiels:

But sometimes, it’s not this simple as some cockatiels don’t like to follow the gender “rules” and can appear like the opposite sex.

It’s rare, especially for wild-type (grey) cockatiels, but it does happen.

3) Width Of The Hips

The width of your cockatiel’s hip bones can help determine their gender.

Female cockatiels typically have wider hips than males, which is a similar rule for humans.

To identify your cockatiel’s gender using this method, you’ll need to have them physically examined by your avian vet.

Looking back, I think this is how the pet store owner identified Arthur, my cockatiel, as a male.

The owner grabbed Arthur from the aviary, felt around near the vent with his fingers, and said “feels like a boy”.

Although breeders and vets can tell the gender based on the width of the hip bones, the average bird owner like you and me would likely not know what to look for.

I know I definitely wouldn’t.

So, if you want to get your cockatiel’s gender checked with this method, see your vet!

4) Body Plumage Colour

It’s a very subtle difference, but male cockatiels tend to have a darker body colour than females.

This is more apparent with wild-type cockatiels.

As well as a mostly grey face, female cockatiels will have a lighter shade of grey across their whole body.

Of course, not all cockatiels can have their genders identified this way, but I thought it was worth mentioning.

5) Pearl Cockatiel Mutation (Male Or Female?)

This last physical difference is unique to the pearl cockatiel, which is a fairly common mutation.

Although pearl cockatiels are known for having small dots or “pearls” along their bodies, male pearl cockatiels actually lose these markings after their first moult.

Only female cockatiels keep their pearls throughout adulthood.

For this reason, most cockatiels identified with the pearl mutation are females.

However, according to petkeen, breeders are starting to retain pearling in adult males, so this might not be an accurate way to tell their gender for too much longer.

4 Behavioural Differences Between Male & Female Cockatiels

Using behaviour to identify your cockatiel’s gender is less reliable than appearance, but it can be used to help confirm any suspicions.

For example, you can watch for male behaviour if you already think your bird looks like a male.

But here’s the thing about cockatiel-gendered behaviour:

Besides gender, there are so many behavioural influences, such as how the bird was raised, diet, hormones, overall personality, etc.

Because of this, assuming gender based on behaviour is usually inaccurate.

Females can show male behaviour, and males can just as easily display female behaviour.

However, there are certain behaviours that are displayed more often by one gender than the other, which we’ll be discussing right now!

1) Mimicking, Whistling, & Talking

When it comes to singing and talking, male cockatiels definitely take the cake!

Males are typically more vocal than females, they tend to pick up tunes better and they like to sing them for longer periods.

The boys also pick up and repeat words/phrases a lot better too!

Female cockatiels on the other hand usually stick to flock calls and natural sounds.

They’re also a lot quieter and vocalise less often, only chirping in response to another flock call.

If you have a very chatty cockatiel, chances are high that it’s a boy.

2) Courting Behaviour

One of the biggest behavioural differences between male and female cockatiels is how they attempt to seduce a mate.

In general, males are much more expressive with their courting behaviours than females.

Male cockatiels will showcase some or all of these behaviours to win the attention of a female:

• Small hops

• Strutting around with heart wings while vocalising

• Lots of singing and pleasant vocalisation toward the perceived mate

• Head bobbing (all juvenile cockatiels also do this)

• Beak tapping on objects and tabletops

They do this even when there are no females in the area.

Female cockatiels are far more subtle with their courting behaviours, which include:

• Sitting on a low perch while making quiet “beeping” sounds (submission)

• Backing their vents into objects (ready to mate)

• Leaning forward and raising their tail feathers (Also ready to mate)

These female behaviours are not just unique to cockatiels but are common with most other parrot species.

3) General Attitude

Typically, male and female cockatiels will have different personalities and attitudes.

But of course, there are many factors that can influence their personalities besides gender, so this isn’t the most reliable way to assume their sex.

I just thought it was worth mentioning since certain personalities are more common with certain sexes.

Firstly, male cockatiels are more direct, outgoing, expressive, and exaggerated.

Female cockatiels tend to be shyer, more reserved and timid.

In threatening situations, males tend to become aggressive, defensive, and screech in agitation, while female cockatiels will usually flee the situation.

When it comes to bird vs bird battles, male cockatiels are less likely to back down from another male, especially when fighting over potential nesting sites or mates. Females will normally avoid confrontation when possible and will submit to most males.

If your cockatiel displays submissive behaviour, it could be a female, but if they display more expressive or dominant behaviour, it could be a male.

But again, it’s often hard to gender your bird like this because they all have different personalities.

4) Eggs & Nesting

Obviously, only female cockatiels are able to lay eggs, even without a male.

If you’ve ever seen your cockatiel lay an egg, it’s 100% a female.

However, the egg will not be able to produce offspring unless a male has mated with the female and fertilised the eggs. If you find an egg inside a cage with multiple birds, you know you have at least 1 female.

When an egg has been laid, both male and female cockatiels will care for it and defend the nest.

In fact, when they’re defending their eggs is the only time when female cockatiels become extremely aggressive.

I guess even cockatiels have those motherly instincts.

Note: If you’re not ready to raise a clutch of cockatiels, you should do everything you can to prevent nesting behaviour.

This means:

• No breeding boxes

• No happy huts

• And no dark places that can be perceived as a nest

Inform yourself about parrot hormones and how to deal with them.

Conclusion

If you don’t want to spend the money for a DNA test to identify the gender of your cockatiel, you can instead rely on physical and behavioural characteristics.

However, a DNA test is the best way to be 100% certain of your cockatiel’s gender.

Here’s a brief overview of how to identify a male cockatiel:

• Solid colour (no markings) under the wings and tail feathers

• Yellow head (grey/wild-type and other mutations), white head with grey bodies (whiteface mutation)

• Generally darker body colour

• More expressive, exaggerated, and direct personalities

• Very vocal, louder, and can learn to repeat phrases and songs

• When hormonal, males will mount objects and rub their vents on them

Here’s a brief overview of how to identify female cockatiels:

• Dark strips or circles underneath flight and tail feathers

• Grey heads (grey/wild-type and other mutations), grey heads with grey bodies (whiteface mutation)

• Diluted/faded cheek patches (grey/wild type)

• Lighter body colours

• Relatively quiet, rarely mimics songs or words

• Shy, reserved, and generally non-aggressive, except when defending eggs

• When hormonal, females will lean forward, lift their tails in the air, and make soft “beeping” sounds

Although these are the usual characteristics for each gender, there are plenty of cockatiels who simply defy these rules and can easily be misgendered. For example, a female cockatiel can decide to display male behaviour and vice versa.

Albino and pied cockatiels are virtually impossible to gender based on appearance, so it might be better to test them.

Hopefully, you now have a confident understanding of whether your cockatiel is male or female.

If not, the DNA test is always available from your avian vet.

Thank you for reading 🙂

Read: Should You Get A Male Or A Female Cockatiel? Which Is The Better Pet?

Sources

• https://www.psittacology.com/sexing-a-cockatiel/
• https://www.wikihow.pet/Tell-if-a-Cockatiel-Is-Male-or-Female
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UahTMWUBSvU (Informative video on cockatiel gender)
• https://feistyfeathers.com/2016/03/20/cockatiel-color-mutations/
• https://petkeen.com/pearl-cockatiel/
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxEArCWtzaM&t=113s (ParrotTeacher)