Content
- Female cockatiel sings?
- female cockatiel singing
- How to know if cockatiel is female
- Coloring
- Behavior
- Cockatiel Song X Sound Language
The cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) are birds originating in Australia and have a life expectancy of up to 25 years. They are animals that live better accompanied, more specifically, in a couple or two females, as two males can fight. They are easily recognized by their yellow or gray plumage and orange cheeks.
They can imitate sounds, music, learn words and even whole sentences, and can associate them with actions such as eating time. However, there are differences both in appearance and in the behavior of males and females. This is what leads to a question common to many worshipers of these birds: the female cockatiel sings? In this post by PeritoAnimal we clarify this doubt and others related to cockatiels and their singing.
Female cockatiel sings?
The doubt if the female cockatiel sings comes from the fact that compared to males they are known to be quieter and more shy, while males are more chatty. Therefore, we can say that the female cockatiel sings Yes, but much less than males. The same goes for learning words.
Males also sing and chirp more often than females because during the mating season they sing to court and attract females.
female cockatiel singing
To exemplify this rare but possible phenomenon, we find this video posted on Ikaro Seith Ferreira's YouTube channel in which he recorded his female cockatiel singing:
How to know if cockatiel is female
The sexual dimorphism of cockatiels does not allow us to identify them sexually by differentiating the sexual organs, but, in many cases, it allows us to recognize differences in appearance and behavior. Even so, species mutations do not always allow this to be possible. Hence the only 100% effective way to to know if the cockatiel is female is through the sexing, a DNA test that reveals the sex of cockatiels from a sample of their feathers, blood or a piece of fingernail.
Much more than a curiosity, it is important to know if the cockatiel is female to prevent two males from being in the same cage, as this can lead to fights that can put their lives at risk. Although it is not a rule, some of the main differences between female and male cockatiel that can be identified from the first 5 months of life (after the first exchange of feathers), preferably after 1 year, are:
Coloring
A general feature in the differentiation of birds by feathers is that, in most cases, they are brighter in males, so that they can attract females during mating seasons. Females, on the other hand, can be described with more opaque plumage, so that they can camouflage themselves in nature. As for the details, we can notice:
- Face: males tend to have a yellowish face with red cheeks, while females appear with a darker face and more opaque cheeks;
- Tail: males may have grayer tail feathers, while females often have striped feathers.
Behavior
As mentioned earlier, both male and female cockatiel can sing and repeat words but it is much more common for the male to be less shy. These differences in behavior are often noticeable. from four months of life.
Another detail that some may notice is that females can have a more skittish behavior with pecks and bites on their caregivers, while males try to get attention in other ways. Speaking of attention, a male cockatiel usually open the chest to get attention and make a head movement typical of the mating ritual. You might as well notice this.
One test that may work with some cockatiel couples is put them in front of a mirror: while the female shows little interest in the image, the male can be enchanted almost at a hypnotic level, showing a lot of enthusiasm for the image itself.
At the time of mating, you may come across the cockatiel trying to copulate on its own, either on some object or part of the nest. In fact, this is masturbation, which indicates the need to cross. This behavior is observed in male cockatiels.
Cockatiel Song X Sound Language
Like any animal, cockatiels also have their way of communicating and sound language is clearly one of them. In this range of sound communication, in addition to singing, you can also hear:
- squeals;
- Whistles;
- Words;
- Grunts.
To understand what they really ask for, it is also essential to pay attention to the body language, especially on the crest, eyes and wings, in addition to the way she relates to you. Nibbles, for example, can be a sign that she is uncomfortable, as when they rest their head in your hand, it can be a request for affection. And, of course, always pay attention to all the necessary care and regular veterinary appointments. For more information, check out our article where we explain how to take care of a cockatiel.
If you want to read more articles similar to Female cockatiel sings?, we recommend that you enter our Curiosities section of the animal world.