Buzz
The cockatiel (also known as the Malay parrot or Australian crested parrot in Vietnam) is a native bird from Australia, closely related to other species like the Galah cockatoo and the black cockatoo. Adult Malay cockatoos with the 'standard gray' color (gray body with a yellow head) are fairly easy to distinguish based on their plumage. Other color variations can be more difficult to identify, but there are behavioral differences and subtle signs that may help you make an educated guess. Try to use a range of information rather than relying on just one characteristic, as each Malay cockatoo can vary greatly in both structure and behavior.
Steps
Identifying the Gender of a Malay Cockatoo Based on Physical Traits
Wait until the bird molts into adult feathers. Male and female Malay cockatoos look very similar when they are young. After around six to nine months, they will shed their feathers and grow a new plumage, often with more vibrant colors and visible differences between males and females.
- A dull or faded coat may indicate nutritional deficiencies, although sometimes it simply means the bird needs to molt a few times before its feathers become brighter and more colorful.
- Do not provide a nesting box for immature birds, as this could trigger premature egg-laying or breeding behaviors that can harm the female cockatoos.
Check if your Malay cockatoo has standard plumage. A typical, non-mutated Malay cockatoo will have a gray body, yellow head, and a distinct orange circle on its cheeks. These birds can be easily identified using the steps outlined below. However, if your bird doesn't match this description, its ancestors may have been selectively bred for unusual feather colors, and this could make identification more challenging. Some identifying features for these types of cockatoos will be discussed below, but you’ll often have to rely on behavioral signs.
Carefully observe the tail feathers. In the typical gray Malay cockatoo, the female (and all juvenile birds) will have streaks on the underside of the tail feathers. These streaks are typically horizontal bands interspersed with gray/dark gray, white/gray, or yellow/gray colors. However, some females may show irregular dots or specks on a gray background. If you don't see any markings, pick up the bird and position its tail under a light to inspect closely. If no markings appear, the bird is likely male.
- For Lutino variants (white and pale yellow birds), the cheek circles remain, and you can distinguish females by yellow spots under the wings and yellow streaks beneath the tail. Clear lighting is essential for spotting these signs.
Compare the coloration on the bird's face. In the typical gray Malay cockatoo, the male’s face usually features more vibrant colors with bright orange circles against a light yellow background. The female’s face shows a lighter orange circle on a gray or pale yellow background.
- In some cockatoo variants, only males will develop yellow feathers on their face after molting, while females retain a gray face resembling a juvenile or sometimes a slightly brownish tone.
- In Malay cockatoos with a white face but a non-white body, sometimes males may lack the circular markings on their face, while females will have faint circles on their cheeks that match the feather color on their body.
Compare the body feathers. In Malay cockatoos with gray plumage, males generally have a darker shade of gray, while females have a lighter shade. This method is not always the most reliable, but it can help confirm suspicions raised by earlier observations. Birds with non-gray plumage are almost impossible to distinguish this way.
- In some variants, females may have pale yellow spots on the underside of their wings.
- In Pearl cockatoos with non-white spots on their bodies, males typically lose these 'pearl' spots after their first molt, while females retain them.
Take your cockatoo to a veterinarian. The final examination based on anatomy should only be conducted by a veterinarian. Inexperienced individuals could seriously harm the bird while attempting this, and are unlikely to differentiate between the sexes accurately. Ask the veterinarian to determine the bird's gender. The vet can examine the pelvic bones, where the female typically has a wider pelvis. However, this method is not entirely reliable, as there can be significant individual variation.
- The older the bird, the more accurate this method tends to be, especially in breeding-aged adult birds that may have already laid eggs.
- If you want to be certain, you can request a DNA test.
Determining the Gender of a Malay Cockatoo through Behavior
Listen to the bird's voice. This method is not entirely reliable and takes time, but cockatoos that enjoy learning to talk are usually males. Whether or not the bird picks up phrases, males tend to sing and whistle more frequently, while females are quieter and more likely to make whistling or screeching sounds.
Let the bird see itself in a mirror. Male Malay cockatoos often stand in front of a mirror, posing, calling, or inspecting their reflection. If the bird loses interest in the mirror quickly, it is likely a female.
Observe male courting behavior. Generally, male Malay cockatoos are quite enthusiastic when courting a mate, but they may display these behaviors even when no other bird is present:
- Drumming their beak on objects to produce loud sounds, aiming to capture the female's attention.
- Walking in a swaggering manner while whistling or beak-drumming, accompanied by hopping and/or frequent head bobbing.
- Spreading their wings wide, forming a heart shape when viewed from behind.
Observe female nurturing behavior. Females are generally less eager to court or mate and usually only exhibit these behaviors when a male is nearby:
- Perching on a low branch, softly chirping with their tail held high.
- Preening the male cockatoo they are bonded with or wish to pair with.
Pay attention to self-pleasure behaviors. Most experienced bird owners observe that birds often engage in behaviors such as rubbing their vent on perches, objects, or even their owner's hands. Some birds perform this act daily, sometimes even more frequently. This 'masturbation' behavior is typically seen in males, though occasional exceptions exist.
- The male usually mounts or stands on an object and rubs his vent against it.
- Females may perform a similar behavior, but they may press their tail up and arch their body forward when engaging with an object.
Observe egg-laying behavior. Only females can lay eggs, but this won’t help if there’s an egg in a cage with multiple birds. To accurately determine the gender of a cockatoo, it's best to house each bird individually and provide a separate nesting box, or position a camera to monitor their behavior.
- Do not provide a nesting box for a female under 18 months old, as egg-laying in immature birds can cause serious health issues.
- Removing eggs may prompt the bird to lay more.
- Remember, eggs may be fertilized if mating behavior is clearly observed.
Advice
- If you purchase a Malay cockatoo from a pet store or a breeder, they typically identify the bird’s gender at the time of sale. While this is not 100% reliable without DNA testing, experienced breeders' guesses are generally quite accurate.
- Females tend to be more nippy, but this behavior largely depends on the individual bird’s temperament.
- If a Malay cockatoo lays more than 8 eggs and has more than two clutches per year, it may be experiencing abnormal egg-laying behavior. This condition can lead to vitamin A and calcium deficiencies. In such cases, a veterinarian can administer injections if other methods, like providing fake eggs in the nest, are ineffective.
- Consider providing cuttlefish bone in the cage to help the bird exercise its beak and ensure it gets enough calcium.
Warning
- Breeding can lead to serious health issues if the female parrot is under 18 months old. Immature Malay parrots also struggle to become good parents. If you have multiple male and female Malay parrots, or are unsure of their genders, it's best to separate them until they mature, or watch for signs of mating behavior.
- Even pairs of Malay parrots that have bonded occasionally engage in fights, though these are rarely severe enough to cause injury.
