how can you tell if a african grey parrots is male or female?

Question

i heard that theres 2 types of african grey parrots, one with bright red tail and one with dark red tail. mine has dark tail if that helps

Answer 1

If your bird has a more MAROON color rather then blood red, it is a Timnah. Congo's having the bright red tail feathers, are larger and softer gray.
You can see which sex your bird is in four different ways.

1)-Pelvic check- feeling for the bones near the butt of the bird. If they meet it's a male, if you can pt your finger tip between these bones, it should be a female. Bird breeders can do this easily, but hard for a beginner.
2)- Blood Drawn- this can be done by and Avian Vet.
3)- Blood feather pull- This must be sent to a lab for results, ask avian vet.
4) Surgically sexing- the bird is put to sleep with gas, the Vet goes in with a scope and looks for which set of goodies they have.
There is no visual way of knowing outside these four ways in MOST birds. Parakeets, cockatiels, and Eclectus are some of the VERY FEW that can be looked at and seen as male or female.

Answer 2

Hi! There are 2 types of African Grey Parrots, the one you have is a Timnah (they are a smaller species than the Congo which has the Bright tail). They are about equal in talking ability, but the Timnah has been said to be the sweeter personality. You can not really tell the sex with 100% accuracy unless you do a blood test which requires taking out a blood feather (not pleasant for the bird and I would have a vet do it) and sending it to a lab (I believe some Labs are listed in the classified of Bird Talk magazine). From the reading I've done you can make an "educated guess" as to the sex by the size and shape of your bird's head...males tend to have a bigger beak and wider head whereas females tend to have a slightly smaller beak and a more "feminine" head. I for years had been told I had a "sexed pair" of Congos but after the "female" died, the vet found that she was really a he! No wonder they never produced an egg! LOL! The Congo I have now is 6 years old (still a baby) and I think she is a she but it dosn't matter as I have no plans to breed him/her. Enjoy your bird no matter what sex he/she is...:o)

Answer 3

The two types you are reffering to are Congo African Grey and Temnah African Grey. The Temnah is slightly smaller, darker grey in color, maroon tail and a lighter colored beak. The Congo is larger, lighter in color, bright red tail feathers and a black beak. There really is no positive way to check for the sex of your bird except DNA testing, about $35.00 - $70.00. There are subtle differences, the females are generally a little smaller than the males, have a dainty rounded head than the males who generally have a flatter or more squared top of the head. A females eye's have a more almond shape than the males which are very round. Hope this helps.

Answer 4

Congo's have the bright red tail and are larger, Timneh are darker, smaller and their tails are more maroon than red. They are two different types of African greys. You can remove a blood feather and have the birds DNA tested or you can have it surgically tested. Other than that you can tell its a female when it starts to lay eggs.

Answer 5

My mom has a Grey & there is no sure way to tell other than DNA testing. It's best to have the vet do bloodwork rather than trying to test them yourself w/one of those kits. You could hurt the bird. One good way to tell is if they lay eggs but that is not always the case. Some captivated females won't lay them. I like the answer the one guy said about asking them. My mom's bird isn't tested but he started calling himself Bob one day so that's his name and we call him a boy even though we don't know for sure. He's 15 and has never laid an egg. Speaking of age, Sunday at dinner he announced from his cage that "Today's My Birthday" so we were dying laughing and I guess he's now 16. It doesn't really matter but if you really need to know then talk to your vet about the test. Good luck! I know you will have a lifelong good time w/a Grey. They're AWESOME! PS) The test usually costs around $50.

Answer 6

yeah ones a Congo bright red tail...the other is a timneh Grey with a dark maroon tail which is a smaller bird and less expensive,but to tell the sex u need them DNA sexed

Answer 7

Unless you going to breed does it really matter. Dna is the only way once the bird is over 1 year old. Up to this age you can tell by the colouring of the eyes apparently. (ask vet). I got my Grey when she/he was 6 years old and previous owner didnt know sex. We call her she cause her name is Mildred but vet says she quite big.Maybe she a he but it doesnt matter cause I not gonna change her name or breed her.

Answer 8

We have the one with the bright red tail.

One has to go to the vets to get it probed. I have no interest in breeding mine, I always call mine a girl, though I have no clue what "she" is.

I know ours sees me as mom (I guess she doesn't cuddle with me anymore) and loves to have Mr. take her out and play with her. Which I feel is no fair :0( I feed her lol! She is always screaming for one of our teenagers to come to her too lol! She talks like crazy...

Unless your breeding yours I feel there is no need for the stress of taking her into the vet.

Answer 9

The only way is a DNA test, that requires a feather or blood sample, your vet should be able to send it off or you can get kits online and do it yourself

Answer 10

get a DNA test its accurate no one Will guess the sex as there is a fifty percent chance of being wrong most breeders will tell you where to get this done