How to Tell the Sex of a Pet Bird
Photo by Chewy
Bird sexing—or determining whether your pet bird is a boy or a girl—is a key factor in knowing how best to care for your feathered friend throughout their lifetime. Male and female birds have different nutritional needs and exhibit unique behaviors as they go through normal hormonal changes.
So just how can you tell a male from a female birds? We talk to vet experts to understand the challenges of visual sexing methods, DNA bird sexing, and how learning the sex of a pet bird can help you provide the best possible care for your feathered friend.
Key Takeaways
- Identifying a bird's sex can help pet parents anticipate behavioral shifts, nutritional needs, and help a vet to make quick and accurate diagnoses.
- Visual sexing is challenging and species-specific, so DNA testing at your vet's office is the best way determine if your bird is male or female.
- Reducing your bird's daylight hours and removing dark spaces that trigger their nesting instincts can help curb unwanted breeding behaviors.
- Female birds (hens) need extra calcium and protein during breeding season, as egg-laying severely depletes these vital nutrients.
- Providing a hormonal bird with toys can help redirect their aggression.
How To Tell the Sex of a Bird
Because most male and female pet birds look so similar, it’s hard to visually tell the difference, says Byron J.S. de la Navarre, DVM at the Animal House of Chicago. Some species of parrots, for example, have different colors depending on their sex, but overall, the majority of male and female parrots look the same.
Male and female cockatoos have different eye colors. Female cockatiels have a marking on their tails that males lack, but even these differences can be difficult to spot. To know your bird’s sex for certain, ask your vet for guidance.
“Veterinarians have the ability to test DNA which requires blood or a blood feather,” de la Navarre says. “Surgical sexing can also be done to look for gonads or ovaries, but that requires anesthesia, so this procedure is not something to be taken lightly.”
Benefits of Knowing the Sex of a Pet Bird
A bird keeper needs to know their pet bird’s sex so they can be prepared for the eventual changes their pet bird will go through as it matures. Male and female parrots have largely different roles in the wild, so they will start acting differently as they grow up.
Knowing your pet bird’s sex is also useful for your avian veterinarian. If you bring in a pet bird that exhibits signs of swelling in the abdomen, fluffed-up feathers, sitting in the corner of the cage, and weakness, your vet might say your pet bird is egg-bound.
But what if your pet bird is a male? The diagnosis changes dramatically.
Hormones and Breeding Behaviors
There are signs to look for to tell when your pet bird is starting to get hormonal. Knowing your pet bird’s breeding season means you’ll know when to expect certain behaviors.
Much like a teenager, a hormonal pet bird can be quite moody. They can suddenly become aggressive, possessive of a certain person in the household, and louder than normal.
Females have the desire to nest and males want to find a mate. You might notice a female bird trying to find a dark hole to nest in, while a male bird starts whistling and chattering up a storm.
Managing Hormonal Behaviors
Knowing if your pet bird is male or female can help you predict certain hormonal behaviors, as well as health issues that can arise. To prevent or lessen certain hormonal behaviors, the first thing you can do is decrease your pet bird’s exposure to natural and even artificial light.
More light and longer days tell your pet bird spring and summer are coming, which are times when food is abundant and perfect for raising chicks. Limiting light exposure can stop your pet bird from seeking a mate or seeking or building a nest.
For an aggressive pet bird, refocus their energy by providing more toys that they can destroy.
Talk to a pet bird breeder or avian consultant for more tips on how to work with your pet bird during breeding season.
Male vs. Female Bird Nutrition
Nutritional needs differ between males and females during breeding season. A female will need extra calcium to help form an egg and help lay eggs. Calcium has other roles in the body, too, so your male pet bird will need it just as much.
“Egg laying can be a significant drain on a female bird’s system, depleting her of protein and calcium,” says de la Navarre. “If their nutrition isn’t ideal, the shells can become soft and the bird’s muscles can weaken.”
Finding out your pet bird’s sex is easy and well worth the investment. It can help you provide the best possible care for your pet bird at every stage of their development.
Featured Image: Via alakulo/Flickr
FAQs About Bird Sexing
Why is it important to know my bird’s sex?
Knowing if your bird is male or female allows you to customize their care—including their nutrition—and properly anticipate and spot their eventual breeding behaviors. Knowing their sex can also help your avian veterinarian assess their health more accurately.
Can I look at my bird to tell if it is male or female?
What is the the most accurate way to tell if my bird is male or female?
How do hormones change a pet bird’s behavior?
Hormonal birds often undergo sudden mood shifts that may cause them to become much louder than usual, unusually aggressive, or highly protective over a single favorite family member.
What is the first step to calming a hormonal bird?
You can curb breeding behaviors by reducing your bird’s daily exposure to light, removing any potential nesting materials, and redirecting any aggressive energy toward toys designed specifically for birds to tear apart.
Attributions
Chris Brownlow contributed to this report.
