how can you tell the difference between Male and female cockatiels?

Question

Went I bought my first cockatiel (at Petland) they said an easy way to sex them is to look at the lines on the tail if they go horizontal that is a girl and if they go vertical that is a boy, does any one know if that is true?

Additional Details


I have one cockatiel and I want to buy another one so I can start breeding them,
and I am going to the pat store on Saturday.

Answer 1

Female cockatiels have horizontal barring on the underside of their tail and the males do not but this is only true in adult birds after the first moult. Before the moult both sexes can have barrs under the tail.

Answer 2

It is true that females have horizontal lines running across their tails and males don't, HOWEVER, this is only a reliable way of sexing them AFTER the first molt. Males can have those same lines until their first molt. The brightness is sometimes not a really reliable way of telling because of the differences in coloration that you see with the different color mutations.

Answer 3

they were part right.
Females, after the first molt, have bars under the tail, the males generally are solid.
So if you don't want to take the risk of getting the same sex, get a slightly older bird.

Answer 4

You have to get blood work done, there is no way of really telling except my the feathers, if they have dark ones they are usually girls. Lighter cheeks are boys, but to be sure get blood work done at your vet.

Answer 5

the pet shop told me the same thing and it seems to be true because my cockateil just layed an egg!

Answer 6

If it has really colorful feathers it's a male. After all boys have to be gorges to get sexy babes!

Answer 7

if the the nose is blue its a male.. if its pink or brown or any kind of colour(expect blue)its a female

Answer 8

the males are more colorful.

Answer 9

the color of their beaks, if it is darker its usually a boy,

Answer 10

Females lay eggs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!