Comparing a Male Parakeet and a Female Parakeet
Key Differences Between a Male and a Female Parakeet
The key differences between male and female parakeets are their cere colors, the ability to lay eggs, behaviors, and vocalizations. It’s very difficult to determine the sex of young parakeets. Male and female parakeets are physically indistinguishable from one another as young birds. Even as adults, it is difficult to determine the sex of these birds. Many birds display prominent sexual dimorphism in the form of their coloration. Males and females of many bird species display wildly different plumage colors and patterns. This is not the case with parakeets, whose many color mutations make males and females impossible to tell apart by this feature.
Male vs. Female Parakeet: Cere Color
The skin above the beak of parakeets that surrounds their nasal openings is called the cere. Cere color can vary and is generally not well defined until parakeets are roughly a year old. It will often be brighter during mating season. In young parakeets, both sexes display light pinkish ceres. Typically, adult male parakeets have a cere that is blue to purple. Adult female parakeets have white to brown ceres, but they can sometimes remain lavender. The color of a female’s cere depends on her hormones and age. Cere color can help determine the sex of your parakeets, but it is not a foolproof method.
Male vs. Female Parakeet: Egg Laying
Female parakeets lay the eggs, and males fertilize them to produce parakeet chicks. A lone female may occasionally lay eggs, but they will be infertile and not produce a chick without the fertilization of a male. This happens when her hormones have gone through changes without a male presence that led to the development and hatching of an egg, as with chickens. When a male has fertilized a female’s eggs, the female will lay 4 to 8 eggs and incubate them for 18 days before hatching.
Male vs. Female Parakeet: Vocalizations
Female parakeets tend to be less vocal than male parakeets overall. They usually stick to one type of vocalization, a call that can sound fussy and excited. Males are more likely to attempt to talk by mimicking the many different sounds they hear.
Male vs. Female Parakeet: Behaviors
Paying close attention to the behavior of your parakeet can help you determine whether you have a male or a female on your hands. The difference in behavior between the sexes is a generalization, and much like the cere, color is a helpful clue but not guaranteed to determine the sex of your bird. Male parakeets tend to be quite energetic and playful. They’ll often display more expressive head bobbing and wing flicking than females. Males may be more open to being handled than females. Males will likely display courtship and mating behaviors when sharing an enclosure with other birds. Females are less active on average but will display aggression and become territorial when protecting their nesting box, eggs, or offspring. They may be less willing to be handled than males and will often nip at approaching hands unless a trusting relationship has been established.
