My cockatiel died around October last year and I never knew 'his' sex. For the majority of his life I assumed he was a girl but when I actually tried to figure it out from the net I changed my mind to him being a boy. Anyway, I am pretty sure I have know idea so I was wondering if anyone could help out with some advice on that matter?

I think he was pearled(but I'll provide a photo just to be sure).
Click to view attachment

I also have a photo of some of his tail feathers that I saved.
Click to view attachment

Thanks
Kyla
x

If the underside of the tail is a solid very dark gray (to black) color, it's a male. If they have white bars across them, it's a female. I hear you can't tell the difference that way with some mutations.

There is also that unmistakable male song that females don't do. The females are generally quieter and make much less complex sounds.

Im so sorry for your loss

Hopefully someone like Carrie Anne or ~Betty K~ will be along, Or NCVon as they raise cockatiels and know a whole bunch more that I do about the mutations.

Sorry for your loss though, he/she was a very pretty bird.

sorry for your loss, looks like a male to me...
males have brighter orange cheeks, sings more, more yellow headed.
females are dull colors, less orange in cheeks and less vocals
and as everyone else said about the bars under the tail feathers.

I had a lutino, all yellow i thought it was a female, she was a male.
lutinos, albinos and some mutations are hard to tell the sex just by looking at it.

Without knowing the bird's behavior, I'm going to go with female. She looks to me like a light Pied Pearl. Female Cockatiels will retain their pearling throughout their lives, while males will usually lose theirs after 2 or 3 molts. There are some breeders that are working to keep the pearls on males, but those birds are few and far between.

The Pied would explain the bright yellow head, as well as the 'dirty face' (this is what some breeders all a Pied with grey on their face).

How old was Speckles when s/he passed on? Was Speckles a vocal bird? Quiet?

Whatever sex Speckles was, s/he sure was beautiful!! I am very sorry for your loss. I know how sweet those Cockatiels can be.

Thanks everyone for your sympathy



Speckles was about 7 and a half years old(so he had gone through lots of molts) His noise wasn't level was no where near obnoxious and he would whistle back to me a lot but compared to the qp I have now he was positively silent(especially with her squawking ans singing away to music right in my ear right now).

I really wish I hadn't lost him but I suppose they have to go sometime and if he hadn't, I would never have gotten Santi, who has carved another deep hole in my heart right next to Speckles' spot. I know you guys of all people will understand but it amazes me how much I love my qp. She is more dear to me than many people I know.

It doesn't really matter his sex, I was just curious. Thanks for your advice
Kyla
xx