Difference Between Male & Female Cockatiel: Which To House?

You want to buy a cockatiel but you do not know which to choose – male or female?

Do you know the difference between male and female cockatiel?

You are in the right place!

Here you will learn how to tell the difference between male and female cockatiels. Also, you will find a lot of interesting things about these species. 

How To Tell The Difference Between A Male And Female Cockatiel

1.Personality Of Male And Female Cockatiel

Female cockatiels are often calmer and more withdrawn than males. Expect it to be a calmer and quiet bird. They will also imitate sounds less. They will repeat a few words, less than male. If you are looking for a calm bird that will not roar then a female is a good choice. But if you are looking for a bird that will repeat your words and be active then a male is a better choice. If you are looking for a bird pet that you will be able to pet, then you need to know that parrots and dogs are not the same. Moreover, female cockatiels will cuddle more than males, but will not be calm for too long. They will gladly sit on your shoulder and will let you tickle them more than male members of this species. Although females are quiet, they can often react aggressively and even bite. You can easily recognize the mood of your parrot by the position of its feathers on its head. If it is upright, it means that the parrot is upset or afraid of something. The loose feathers mean calmness and comfort, and if it’s next to the head, it signifies fears of possible attack and defense.

2.Body Structure Of Male And Female

Females also differ from males in body structure and feather color. Most often, male birds of this species have more feathers on the face and top of the head than females. They have a very pronounced yellow dot that looks like a cheek. Females also have a yellow spot but it is a little paler and fused with other colors on the face. Because of such feathers, these birds easily camouflage themselves in the wild. This helps them fight predators and hunt for food. Of course, your pets also vary in pelvic size. In females, the bones are wider than in males. Some new species of these parrots were also bred during breeding. They differ in the color of their feathers, so we can see gray, black, and colorful parrots of this species. You can distinguish young cocktails by the ear area. In males of this species, the ear area is slightly more pronounced than in females. 

3.Interests Of The Male And Female Cockatiels

Differences between male and female cockatiel could be seen in interests in certain things. For example, if you give a male bird a mirror, it will enjoy its reflection and will not detach itself from that interesting device. On the other hand, females will find it interesting for a few moments, but they will soon get bored. So with other things, females will quickly get fed up with everything and will not pay much attention to anything. Also, your birds will love the music. Female cockatiel parrots will be calmer and do not overreact to it. On the other hand, males of the same species are playful and even more responsive to music. They jump, whistle, and for the joy their feathers rise on their heads. Males of this species like to hang upside down in a cage, thus showing dominance and elegance. Also, then they can flap their wings, which would mean they want out of the cockatiel play gym cage. When a male tilts his head to the left or right, it usually means that he has paid attention to something and is listening to something. Male cockatiels are interested in training, so if you want to know how to train a parrot to talk, you should try it with a male cockatiel first.

4.Courtship Rituals

One of the main differences is in courtship. The male bird will look for various ways to court the female. Sometimes they will give courtship signals even though there is no female nearby. The male beats various elements with his beak to pay attention to him. He wants to get all the attention on him, and for the female to notice him. Then he will show his stature and he may even jump. Also, when they see a female, the males raise their wings, and when you look at them, they look like hearts. Females can give signs as well, and these are some by which you can distinguish a female from a male. The bird will sit in a semi-sitting position and chirp softly with its tail raised. Then, the female can give food to the male that she likes.

5.Tail Of Cockatiel Birds

You can also see the difference between male and female cockatiels if you study their tails. You can recognize females if you focus on the colors on the underside of the tail feathers. Observe if horizontal lines are visible. Gray-yellow and white-gray colors alternate most often. Also, females have dots on the gray background of the feathers. Sometimes these spots are not seen best so you need better lighting. Try to see if there are any dots when you direct the light to that area. If there is no dot, then it is a male parrot. Males have 12 feathers in their tails. These feathers are usually darker in color than the head. Males are usually large between 28-33cm. Its tail is as big as half of its size. 

6.Nesting Eggs

You probably already know that only females can lay eggs. Observe the bird and its behavior. If your bird is getting ready to lay eggs you will notice this by its weight. It would be good to measure your birds regularly so they can notice when they gain more weight. You may also notice thickening in the abdomen. If you own multiple birds and do not know which are the females, it would be best to put them in separate cages and set up a nest to lay eggs. But you have to be careful how old your parrot is because it is dangerous if you put a nest in front of young birds. The females will sit on the eggs for about twenty days.

7.Health Problems

Like any animal, this species of parrot has some health problems. In females, they are most common when laying eggs. The egg-laying weakness comes slowly, the bird is getting weaker every day due to successive breeding. Lack of calcium can occur in both species, but in females, it is most commonly due to continual clutches. Throwing off eggs is also one of the phenomena that can often happen to female cocktails. It most often occurs when an egg is infertile, or due to a change in atmospheric conditions. Birds feel every change, and this of course affects their health and even behavior. Feather plucking is another disease that occurs most often in females of this species. This disease is caused by improper diet and poor nutrition. Malnutrition is a common disease in males. It most often occurs because a bird does not eat healthy food or food that is appropriate for its age. You need to keep an eye on your pet and watch how it feeds. Also, watch out for males when they jump the cage or hang upside down. They usually get hurt when they fall, injuring their wings.

8.Best Food

Although both females and males are most often fed the same food, some are more prone to one species. Also, every bird, just like humans, has a different taste. Some will love sunflower seeds, and some won’t even taste them. Furthermore, you need to pay attention to the diet and health of your birds. Females like to eat a variety of seeds, berries, vegetables, and even fruits. When females are in the breeding process, you need to prepare a lot of vegetables and fruits for them that are full of vitamins, sunflower seeds, and canary seeds. At that time, you must give the bird the best nutrition, because the diet will depend on the quality of the eggs, as well as the health of the bird itself. In males, it is important to give them soft food that they will easily digest. Soaked bread, masked veggies are the best solution for these birds.