What gender is Cloud?

[lydiacminx]

Hi all,

My old boy Blue unfortunately passed away suddenly (after showing no signs of illness), leaving his friend Kiwi behind. Kiwi is a young thing, at only 1.5 years old. I had to make the decision to get him a friend or rehome him (which I clearly did not have the power to do!).

I specified that I would like another boy, and had a choice of 3. The other 2 boys seemed quite aggressive (and were bullying other birds in the cage), whilst Cloud, the bird I picked, was BEING bullied. 

They assured me that Cloud was a boy, but if he turns out to be a girl, I won't be fussed. Cloud and Kiwi got on immediately and have been very happy together, so that's all I'm really worried about.

Here are some photos of Cloud:


imgur.com/a/BOjN2

I'm fairly sure that Cloud is a recessive pied, hence me being confused over the gender. I'd just like to be certain so I don't get any surprises down the line!

As a side note: They told me Cloud was between 10-12 weeks old. Now, Kiwi is fully grown, but Cloud already looks larger. He also hasn't stopped eating, to the point that in the evenings he looks like a ball with tail feathers! So if anyone could possible give me confirmation of age, I'd appreciate it.


Thank you all

[redbeardnz]

judging by the whites around the nostrils i would say female...
but im new. so this is more to test my knowledge than being at all useful to you

[lydiacminx]

Sept 26, 2016 9:02:33 GMT redbeardnz said:

judging by the whites around the nostrils i would say female...
but im new. so this is more to test my knowledge than being at all useful to you

 We're both trying to guess together then!! I will say though that the photos make the rings look white, they're actually blue. My stealthy picture taking skills are not to be envied!!

[jellybean]

Guessing.....I'll say female too 🤔

[OP]

Another guess and I'm also saying female. The nares of most females look larger than they do on a cock. I have been wrong before so may be I'm wrong now. He/she looks a beautiful bird whatever.

[starlingqueen]

Pretty little hen.

[lydiacminx]

I'm surprised I must say! As the cere looks exactly like the male dominant pied on this site:

www.cutelittlebirdiesaviary.com/exceptions-to-the-rule-when-sexing-male-budgies.html

The photos do make the cere look washed out but it's a mix of pink/purple and sky blue around the nares.

Thank you all!

[lydiacminx]

I've done a bit more inspection, Cloud seems to be a double factor dominant pied, given the ring around the iris, colour in between the wings and a few other bits.

Although that means that the cere is an indicator of an adult male...so again age and gender is a big ol'question mark!

[starlingqueen]

From the image you have posted it is a hen. If you want to put up more pictures we can have another look.

[Hezz]

You are the one who can see the bird in the flesh; if you say they are more like the bird in the link, I would go with that; I don't think the photo is definitive either way, and I do agree that he is a double factor dominant pied, by my uneducated reckoning.

[JennyB]

What a lovely name for your pretty'/handsome bud. I have no clue on gender being too inexperienced myself. Sorry to here about your Blue. That's great news that Kiwi and Cloud have clicked.

[JennyB]

Sept 26, 2016 9:02:33 GMT redbeardnz said:

judging by the whites around the nostrils i would say female...
but im new. so this is more to test my knowledge than being at all useful to you

I've forgotten how to tag so quoted you instead. What are the name a of your two cute buds in your pic?