Hi everyone,

I have a male budgie that is almost 1 year old. My questions is, the color of his cere seems to be lighter than other pics I've seen of male budgies. Also the color is whiter around the nares. But I don't think he's a female because his behavior definitely suggests male. Will his cere color get bluer with maturity? What does the cere turning bluer mean? Here's a picture of him, thanks!

 

Well whatever he is he's gorgeous! I've never seen a cere like that before but i would probably guess male because it looks too dark to be female.

I think male budgies go into condition to breed as well as females, and this might cause the cere to turn a little bluer. If you had said that picture was of a 6-8 month old bird, I'd have said female, but if he is 12 months already and the cere is still that color I would agree he is male. He is a very pretty blue.

Joey is the same colour Lei as your budgie. His cere was the same colour a light blue. Only tonight when I was talking to Joey I noticed that the pale blue seems to be coming off and underneath is a really deep blue colour. Is this a sign of maturity?

Certainly is! your baby is growing up

Joey is the same colour Lei as your budgie. His cere was the same colour a light blue. Only tonight when I was talking to Joey I noticed that the pale blue seems to be coming off and underneath is a really deep blue colour. Is this a sign of maturity?

 

Whoa, it's just peeling off or changing color? That's neat, also, how old is your budgie?

Joey is about 31 weeks old It looks as if it is peeling off and as I said underneath is a deep blue.