Instructions
Inspect the bird's feathers after its juvenile molt. Normal gray or pearl males have mainly white or yellow faces, while female faces are mostly gray or brown. Normal gray and Lutino female parakeets have bright yellow markings under their flight feathers and yellow bars on their tails. Male grays and Lutinos lack these markings.
Listen to their vocalizations. Males are very vocal and produce whistles and calls. Females are quieter, and rarely whistle. Instead, their vocalizations consist of screeches or hisses.
Observe their behavior. Male birds stick their chests out and strut and will show off when placed in front of a mirror. Females bite more often and have little or no interest in mirrors. Only females will lay eggs.
How to Tell the Gender of Your Cockatiel?
When purchasing cockatiels as pets, owners should learn how to distinguish males from females. Male and female birds have different dispositions, and various pet parents may prefer one behavioral type over another. With the exception of white-face (albino) birds, cockatiels can be sexed by their coloring after the first molt. After observing behavior and vocalization over a period of time, it should be easy to distinguish between genders regardless of coloration.