Cockatiel Help?

[Rosa moschata]

Whitefaced lutinos are solid white -- no yellow anywhere, and no orange cheek patches. They don't show the barring because they have no pigment in their feathers which could result in barring (i.e. alternating light-dark). Genetically, they're like "albino" budgies (or other parrot species). The white faced mutation corresponds to "blue" mutations in green parrots (i.e. deletes the yellow/orange/red colors). Lutino deletes the melanin. Delete both, and you're left with solid white. Though I have read that if you look really carefully while shining a "black light" on the bird, you might be able to see some faint barring under the tail on females.

 

[Classroom Quail]

Whitefaced lutinos are solid white -- no yellow anywhere, and no orange cheek patches. They don't show the barring because they have no pigment in their feathers which could result in barring (i.e. alternating light-dark). Genetically, they're like "albino" budgies (or other parrot species). The white faced mutation corresponds to "blue" mutations in green parrots (i.e. deletes the yellow/orange/red colors). Lutino deletes the melanin. Delete both, and you're left with solid white. Though I have read that if you look really carefully while shining a "black light" on the bird, you might be able to see some faint barring under the tail on females.

Oh, that makes more sense. I may have to try the black light and see how that works.

 

[dogwoodlaine]

I've always had great luck with sexing (older birds) by checking pelvic bones. If you can handle the birds, gently (and I do mean gently) feel the abdomen...dead center just above the vent. What you are feeling for is a pointy bony structure. That is where the pelvic bones come together. If it feels like a single point or two very closely spaced bones....male. If you can feel two distinct points, perhaps the width of your pinky finger...female (spaced apart to allow passage of an egg).It's not 100% but it usually works. I raised tiels for maybe 10 years...stopped 10 years ago. Hope this helps!

 

[Classroom Quail]

I've always had great luck with sexing (older birds) by checking pelvic bones. If you can handle the birds, gently (and I do mean gently) feel the abdomen...dead center just above the vent. What you are feeling for is a pointy bony structure. That is where the pelvic bones come together. If it feels like a single point or two very closely spaced bones....male. If you can feel two distinct points, perhaps the width of your pinky finger...female (spaced apart to allow passage of an egg).It's not 100% but it usually works. I raised tiels for maybe 10 years...stopped 10 years ago. Hope this helps!

I could give that a try, I suppose. They don't really like to be handled, though... they'd probably bite me.