Hi I have 2 QP and realise that they actually look alittle different. One of them is smaller in size, narrower beak and with more prominent scallop markings on the chest than the other. Are they different sub-species of the QP family? Any website where I can identify these Quaker sub-species? Finally just curious is it ok to breed QP that are different and what kind of babies would come out of it?

Hi,

Here is a site that gives a brief description of the different sub-species:

http://www.avianweb.com/monkparakeets.htm

My feeling is that if more than one of the sub-species was imported into the US (back when importation was allowed), they have probably been bred with other sub-species. Our own Quakers might very well be a mix of sub-species, and I don't know how we'd ever be able to tell.

Interesting question tho.

Hi, I noticed the same thing with mine. Abby is 4 months old and Lola is two month old. Lola is bigger, her beak is a slightly different color, she is also a little brighter green. and their heads are shapped a little different. you wouldn't notice the differance unless they're next to each other.I got them seperately (you can't have just one) but from the same breeder.I thought maybe I had a male and a female.

Robin

I honesty believe you can not tell gender visually. Since there are several subspecies and they have been crossed and we have mixed species all over the place, you can have varying chicks in the same clutch. Depends on gene dominace (just like people) I have several of the quaker species here, just by looking at them I'd say three anyhow. Bomber being the smallest one and Kramer being the largest one. I'm not going to worry about it, cuz they are all my pals and I love them!

I was reading a article online the other day and for the life of me i can't remember the site s name

but it said one other way to tell from a male and female in quakers are from the size of thier head and beaks that males have a more fuller head and wider beak
and females have a slinder beak and a more slinder head
it said it was 65% accurte and also said the only way to be 100% posative was dna but it showed a pic of a male and female and it was noticable plus it was pointed out so that may of been why too

wish i could remember the site name - if i come across it again i'll let ya know it was intresting to read even if it is not a 100% posative it was still intresting to read

Was it this website:

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/5484/quakers.htm

I still do not agree with the theory. I mean, no matter what way you do it (even guessing) you still have a 50/50 shot at getting it right.

Sorry, for me, I'll stick to science to rely on the sex of a bird (DNA or surgical sexing).

btw, this is a really interesting thread! Thanks for bumping it up.

nope that wasnt the page i was on it wasn't on geo cities, i'll have to see if maybe i saved it or if i can find it again but i agree with the ones that need sexed to know for sure, its the only way to go, but it is cool if u guess and then get it sexed and ur right :-)

You can always try checking your history

great thread!

I've actually started to wonder if Yogi was of the smaller sub-species, because everything I've read says that the Monk Parakeet is 12 inches long. The smaller sub-species Paraguayan Grey-breasted Parakeet is 10 inches long.

I keep hearing from people that Yogi is the smallest quaker they've ever seen

So now I'm wondering if my little guy is actually the smaller sub-species, because he is in fact only 10 inches long from beak to end of tail (he was not happy about being measured either lol).

Do quakers reach their full length at a young age, or do they grow a bit more as they reach maturity? Please please please someone have an answer.

Either or, I love my little guy, but it would be nice to be able to tell people that my little guy is a different sub-species, and therefore just the right size, or that he's not full grown yet

I have to say that sometimes I want to reply "hmmm yours looks like L.A weight loss material"

Any help with my dilemma would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Deb

A quick google search got me this link, it's pretty good:

http://www.arndt-verlag.com/projekt/birds_...p;Pic=265_1.JPG

I agree with andie I think its impossible to tell gender I have read all the articles on the subject and unless your bird has laid an egg there is really no way of telling gender other than DNA testing.
I know for myself I think I have a large quaker he seems larger than others as he measures at 14.5 inches where I have seen other adult quakers that were smaller. Genetics would play an active role in size. I guess thats why I am only 5'10 and my sister is 6'2 either that or I was the postmans daughter just kidding btw!!!
Its also why I am really careful not to do weight comparisons because all quakers are not going to be the same weight due to the variance in size as well.
On a side note my friend got back from his south american journey and told me the quaker parrots were much bigger than the one I have...he said they were supersized there lol.

I like your answer best

Yogi may be smaller than other quakers, but he's got a very big personality, and I love him.

So when other quaker parronts tell me Yogi is the smallest they've ever seen, I'm not going to let it bother me. I will smile and say "I know, and isn't he adorable"