Q&A for How to Tell if a Cockatiel Is Male or Female

Repeatedly whistle the tune to him; if he does manage to sing (or even to begin to), reward him with his favorite treat.

It probably means it enjoys the song. But if it's an angry squawk, it probably doesn't like it.

Your bird might not trust you. Try to get close to your bird slowly and let them come to you. wikiHow's article on taming cockatiels might help you as well.

Of course cockatiels will communicate with each other. They'll likely be happier together.

Unless the egg was fertilized by a male bird, no. Female cockatiels cannot reproduce by themselves.

If you prefer vocal cockatiels, males are the way to go. Females are less vocal. If you don't want much social time with your pets, I don't recommend cockatiels. They are very social birds and yearn for attention.

They live at least 10-15 years, but usually 16-35 years.

Try to separate them. Make sure the bird stays away for at least a few days.

Within a range of 35 to 40.5°C (84.5 - 104.9°F) there is the possibility of eggs hatching. The optimum (for hens) is 37.5 °C (99.5°F). Above this temperature, as well as a reduced hatch, there will be an increase in the number of crippled and deformed chicks. Above 40.5 °C (104.9°F) no embryos will survive.

Yes, you can buy a cockatiel for a pet, but make sure you do plenty of research about taking care of them first because it's a big responsibility.

No. A cockatiel will only eat as much as it needs before it is full. Regurgitation is from one bird's mouth to another's as a form of courting. Vomiting is what you described and can be serious. You should get an navian vet ASAP.

Normally you can justify by the plumage of the tail and face and see if the beak is pink or grey (pink means it's younger most of the time).

Usually young juveniles, it will be harder to tame the bird when it gets older.

Nesting boxes that give both the male and female room and preferably made of wood should do the trick. If not, ask an avian vet for advice.

Yes, some birds just take a liking to particular people!

Watch for unusual behavior, like your cockatiel refusing to eat or be active.

Nothing, you can just separate the birds so they don't bother each other.

It’s better to go a little bigger for cockatiels, as most don’t like small or confined spaces. For one cockatiel, a five square meter cage is ideal.

No, you need to wait until the cockatiel has some adult plumage. Usually you can tell when they are 6-9 months old.

The surest way to get him to stop masturbating is to find a partner with whom he can bond. With regard to the biting and hissing, it will take time for him to get used to you. Approach him slowly, avoiding sudden movements and loud noises, taking low and soothingly while he develops trust.

Both male and females sit on the eggs. When the female is getting food, the male will sit on the eggs.

There is only one species of cockatiel, and all of them are social if you tame them properly.

It’s better to keep them in separate cages with supervised time out together, but sometimes different species can get along well enough that they’ll be able to share a cage.

No, males will lose them after their first molt. Females will always keep the spots.

You could take him to a vet if he is itching a lot or acting strangely.

The sex does not matter. What matters is your cockatiel's personality.

He may find the nesting box a safe place to hide away, which would indicate that your bird is feeling unsafe or nervous in his environment. It's also possible that he just finds it comfortable in there.

If it’s more vocal, it’s most likely a male. With white cockatiels, it's harder to tell the gender.

The birds might be doing a mating dance, or they might just be playing, but the dancing shouldn't be harmful in any way.

It's a place for them to sleep or lay eggs, it's basically a nest for pet birds, similar to what birds build for themselves in the wild.