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Post by luvsanimals2 on Dec 3, 2013 3:05:20 GMT
Unlike many species of parrots, budgies are sexually dimorphic. This means that the two genders are visibly different in appearance and can be identified at a glance without genetic testing. While all budgies have vibrant body feathers and similar shapes, the two genders have different color ceres. The cere is the soft, fleshy part of the face above the beak where the bird's nostrils are. It is possible to tell the gender of an infant bird with some accuracy, but it becomes much easier when the animal reaches sexual maturity. Budgies reach sexual maturity around 6 months; this means that the cere will start to change colors. Although mature at six months, a budgie is not ready to have young until they are a year old or so. Male ceres are usually a smooth, single color. Males can have pink or purple ceres if they are young or have certain feather coloration mutations, such albinism or recessive pied. Adult male birds will normally have dark or royal blue ceres. Female ceres can be many colors. Young hens tend to have white rings around their nose. A young female may have pink, pale blue or white in a mixture on their cere. Unlike males, female cere coloration can change throughout their entire life time in response to their breeding hormones rather than the single change to adult that males go through. Classic adult female cere colors include a rich brown and a snow white - brown is the sign of a hen in breeding condition and white is the color of a hen who is not. A bird entering or leaving breeding condition will have a tan colored cere because of the transition. Females  white rings (Luna)  Tan (Dakota)  White (Luna)  Brown/flaky (Teeki) Males  Pink/Purple (young budgie - Sonny)  male - mature vs young  Blue (Mr. Tweets) Comparison  Tweets and Tweetles |
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Post by budgieboy on Dec 5, 2013 4:22:56 GMT
Tiny has an awkward blue and purple cere
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Post by gmcgoy on Dec 31, 2013 6:01:14 GMT
Hi luvsanimals2. We have been budgie shopping for a few months. Everyone, including two breeders I have spoken to tell me it is impossible!!! to tell the sex of the bird before 6-8 months or so. Some pet stores had birds with clearcaps, but the cere was so pale it was hard to tell the color. Did look somewhat blue on some birds. We would like a male. Can one tell the sex by behavior. We saw two birds we liked today. We could imagine that their ceres were blue-ish... The both say and sang and chatted away. Would that be more indicative of a male? Do females sit and chatter? You mention it is possibe to tell the difference between the sexes in infant birds. Any hints for me? Thank you!
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Post by Pammy on Dec 31, 2013 6:33:10 GMT
One hint in young budgies is that if the cere is at all what you would call white, then it's a girl.
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Post by gmcgoy on Dec 31, 2013 7:57:51 GMT
If it looks sort of blue or bluish purple and the bird likes to sit and jabber, maybe a male??? What is the best way to pick out a parakeet anyone? It will be with us a long time!!! We really don't want to worry about the health of a female as far as egg laying, and we really wanted a male... The pet stores are not very helpful at all.
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Post by dianapalmer on Dec 31, 2013 14:22:23 GMT
He sounds like a male. What color are the feathers?
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Post by luvsanimals2 on Dec 31, 2013 14:41:11 GMT
is it possible to take a pic and show us? usually if there is any white then it it female. males are usually more vocal and head bob and such
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Post by dianapalmer on Dec 31, 2013 15:41:56 GMT
I'm not surprised about the lack of help at the store! Pet stores often don't know how to sex budgies, even if they think they do.
Look for a budgie that is active, looks clean, has bright eyes, and no poop around the vent. Be sure the beak and cere (nose) look clean and healthy--no cracks, lines, or crust.
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Post by Sarah on Dec 31, 2013 18:08:30 GMT
There is one key to identifying a young male: a single bright color. If you are looking at babies, don't look for blue. Powder and pale blues are baby females. Look for the brightest, richest pink or purple cere you can find, and that will be a baby boy. Several colors on the cere or any white on the cere is going to be female. Look at Luna, the young female pictured above. Her cere is both pale blue and white. This isn't gender confusion, pale blue is a female color. Pink, purple and dark blue are male colors. You simply cannot identify a young bird accurately by behavior. Females can sometimes act loud and boisterously, and sometimes males can be calm. Or, when you happen by, a female might be extremely excited, or a male be sleepy and not give you a good idea of how they act the majority of the time. The pet store is a high stress environment for a bird. You cannot use this as an effective judge of the way a bird will behave in the home. This bird is no more than a few weeks old, still clinically an infant bird, and I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt it is male. Look for a cere like this:  |
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Post by Pammy on Dec 31, 2013 21:49:26 GMT
Another tip on choosing your baby, and this is true for either gender, is to pick one that looks happy, is playing with a toy or maybe even comes over to look you over with interest and doesn't act afraid. Best wishes, and tell us when you have your baby. We love pictures, and we love sharing in the joy of getting a new bird. It's kinda like we all got to get a new one.  |
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Post by gmcgoy on Jan 1, 2014 18:26:33 GMT
Thank you all soooooo much for all of the helpful comments!! Yes we did see a number of birds my daughter liked that had nice purple ceres. She is looking for a green bird. Petco got a bunch in that have bars to the cere. I am also waiting to hear from the one breeder currently breeding who will have babies in a week or so, but only 2 left. I will go watch birds again today. We will keep you posted! |
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Post by gmcgoy on Jan 3, 2014 2:45:47 GMT
Just got a email from the breeder with baby pictures!!! So excited!!! Hope there is a boy!!! We can see them next week!
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Post by Pammy on Jan 4, 2014 4:31:28 GMT
Very exciting!!! Does the breeder hand raise tame babies? That would definitely be the way to go. Worth every penny! |
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Post by gmcgoy on Jan 4, 2014 6:01:24 GMT
She does not hand feed them, but she handles them every day and says they are calm and tame.
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Post by Sarah on Jan 5, 2014 9:54:16 GMT
Believe it or not, that method is better! A hand fed bird is more likely to develop bad nipping habits than a bird raised in tandem with the parents : human parents snuggling and avian parents feeding.
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