Cockatiel Wing Spot Sexing Visually

Thank You Susanne Russo For Contributing These Pictures And What A Beautiful Job You Did! ~~Thanks! Rainey

Sometimes by looking at the wings and feathers of a bird can help with determining the sex of a bird. This Web Site shows the wing spots of several mutations and some suggestions on how to sex a young tiel by looking at the underside of the wing.

The Wing Spots On Males As Well As Tail Non-Barring

Wing of a young grey male. When looking at the underside of the wing on young grey or cinnamons you will notice that there are rows of dots. Sometimes you can look at these dots to determine the sex of the bird. This normally applies to: greys, cinnamons and lutinos. *If* the bird is a male the dots will only be seen on half of the length of the wing from the body. The wing feathers closest to the body will not show any dots...or very faint dots.

During the first molt a young male will molt out the dot/spotted flight feathers and solid feathers will grown in. With the first molt there is also a slight increase in flight feather length, and also tail length. Some males will increase tail length over several molts.

During the first molt a young males head will change from a solid color to yellow (or white if a whitefaced bird). This is gradual over a couple months as each dark feather is molted out a yellow (white) feather will replace it. During the molt a young bird will have a blotchy, freckled look to the side of the face and forehead. The new feathers that come in on the shoulder and back will also look slightly darker and brighter than the old ones ready to be molted.

During the first molt a male will lose the barred feathers from the body and the new feathers will come in solid color.

Wing of an adult male. When young all greys, cinnamons and lutinos will have the colors of the female. During the first and/or second molt the dots and barring that are on the wings and tails of the males will molt out and grow in solid.

.............Underside of the tail of an adult grey male............

.....................Adult Cinnamon and Grey Males...................