Male Female Examine the tail No markings or dots on the underside of the tail feathers Horizontal stripes (grey/dark grey or white/grey or yellow/grey) or markings (dots) on the underside of the tail feathers Examine the face Vivid orange spots on a bright yellow face Lighter orange spots on a muted-yellow or grey face Look at body plumage Darker grey plumage Lighter grey plumage Faint yellow spots on underside of wings Pearled-breed females will have white dots Listen to vocalizations Talkative, often whistling Quieter, may hiss or screech Hold up a mirror Strutting, calling to, or displaying curiosity about the mirror Little to no interest in mirrors Look for courting rituals Loudly tapping the beak against objects Strutting while whistling or beak-tapping Hopping and/or head-dips Lifting wings slightly away from the body (creating a heart-shape from behind) Little to no courting behaviors If a male is present, she may sit on a low perch, quietly peep, and lift her tail in the air Look for masturbation methods Humping an object Standing over an object and rubbing its vent (or bottom) on it Backing up against an object (bent forward with her tail in the air) Watch for egg-laying Tip: give each bird a separate cage or nesting box No egg-laying Will lay eggs Note: To avoid health issues, young females (under 18 months) should not be given a nesting box. Visit a veterinarian A professional will look at the bird’s hip-width and can even give you a DNA test. Narrow hips Wider hips