I am so certain based on Piccolo's cere alone, that he is a boy. It's even purple. It looks so different from his identical sister's white and pastel blue cere.

 

Here are the best pictures I have of him:

 

 

 

 

The reasons I think he acts like a girl:

 

- He is very quiet, doesn't chortle along to music or outside bird noises much (although he does chortle along to running water - very soft gentle babyish noises though)

 

- He chews the branches in his cage

 

- He bites hard! He didn't bite at all when I first handled him. But today I had to reclip his wings because one of the feathers hadn't been cut properly... and he drew blood!

 

- Not too sure, but also maybe because he seems less social than Cosmo? Placid, doesn't do much, doesn't interact a lot with his environment unless it's chewing stuff up.

 

- Oh and he's opaline

 

So........ what do you think? Could he possibly be a girl? I was so sure of his cere. If he's a girl I will never have confidence sexing a budgie again!!!

Hmmm...In the first picture it looks like a male but in the second looks female and the behaviour is like a female. l'm not 100% sure but based on the behaviour l would say female.

Really? What is the difference between the two pics? I can't quite see it myself but I am very interested to know.

sorry, i have no idea except he/she is GORGEOUS!!

As for the quietness- it may take a while for him/her to get going, my little Peanut was fairly quiet 4 quite a few days at first!

Even though we decided on a name, last night we realised that Sprinkles would be a good name for Piccolo. Because he LOVES the sound of running water.

 

So maybe if he decides to be a she, I will change her name to Sprinkles we'll see...

Really? What is the difference between the two pics? I can't quite see it myself but I am very interested to know.

In the secound picture the cere looks like it has a little bit of white around the nostril, and not in the first picture.

Edited June 12, 200915 yr by birdluv

Interesting..... yeah I can see what you mean now, but in real life, he does look like the second picture when far away, and he does look like the first picture when close up Guess time will tell! I don't mind too much either way, really. We were hoping for a boy just to tame more easily, but didn't mind too much if it's a girl.

 

 

 

 

---------------- (why does it always put my new post into my old one? grr)----

 

 

Update:

 

My goodness! I could swear the cere has changed within a few hours. I took that first photo a few hours ago. Now it is getting lighter and a bit more brown than purple When I got him I was 100% certain boy. When I posted this I was still 95% certain boy. Now... I think I'm 60% boy... starting to lean towards suspected hen. This is fascinating! I'm going to be looking at the cere every hour at this rate lol.

 

 

Here's a new picture of the cere 5 minutes ago:

Edited June 12, 200915 yr by krosp

This is very interesting, in the latest picture looks male :question:

 

 

 

If it helps here is a female budgie similar age and same type

 

 

 

The reasons I think he acts like a girl:

 

- He is very quiet, doesn't chortle along to music or outside bird noises much (although he does chortle along to running water - very soft gentle babyish noises though) Maybe he's still getting used to his new home. Different budgies adapt differently.

- He chews the branches in his cage Many of my males also love to chew branches. It doesn't nessasarly mean it's nesting behaviour

- He bites hard! He didn't bite at all when I first handled him. But today I had to reclip his wings because one of the feathers hadn't been cut properly... and he drew blood! Maybe when you were holding him you may have hurt him (accidently) I have been bitten by males before when handling for certain reasons.

- Not too sure, but also maybe because he seems less social than Cosmo? Placid, doesn't do much, doesn't interact a lot with his environment unless it's chewing stuff up. Again, maybe still adjusting. Can also relate to his upbringing, and his personality... everyones different.

 

I still think you have a very handsome boy... maybe he is just in touch with his inner female :question:

Edited June 12, 200915 yr by maesie

wow this is a toughie...i would bet on a male, his cere is colorful in pink which usually indicated young male

Looks very male to me :question:

 

All birds are different they say that females do this and males do that doesn't mean they can't do other things too. Pretty was very quiet and never moved it took a long time. I believe once quarantine is over you will see a different personality once you put him in with your other bird.

I agree, male :question:

i think male too...

It would have to be male guaranteed, i haven't seen a hen with a pink cere before.

as for it acting like a girl, all budgie's personality's are different, he might be a tom-girl? :question:

Edited June 12, 200915 yr by mattdog2

its a boy in my opinion, a beautiful boy. not all budgies act the same. its liek humans all girls are not the stereotype that the media says they are. same concept you have read about behaviour in girl and boy budgies but not all budies fit into those categories if that makes sence...?

its a boy in my opinion, a beautiful boy. not all budgies act the same. its liek humans all girls are not the stereotype that the media says they are. same concept you have read about behaviour in girl and boy budgies but not all budies fit into those categories if that makes sence...?

Well said

He's a Cock bird but I'd love to see more photos of him. I am very curious as to what variety he is?

 

He has an orange beak and pink feet so he should be a recessive. I am thinking greywing but would love to see his wings.

Sure Daz, I'll get some more pictures when he's more comfortable around the camera and when it's not night. I think his markings are going to go black when he's older but I can't be sure - at the moment they are a bit grey. He is opaline - has that V shape on the wings.

 

If it helps... he has a big white patch on the back of his head

 

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Edit:

Actually I just realised I already do have a few of his back on my computer. So I'll put up what I have. Let me know if you need me to take one of anything else.

 

 

Edited June 13, 200915 yr by krosp

There is no doubt that your bird is male. He is an opaline sky blue