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Has anyone noticed a difference in the shape of the cockatiels crest depending on whether it's a male or a female? I know all the standard ways to sex them but when they are very young (short of feeling the pelvic bones and still not getting a conclusinve answer) I wondered if anyone had some other clues. I notice that both my mature females have somewhat shorter and straighter crests where as the males have more of the swept back curve. Would you mind taking a look at yours and tell me if you see the same thing?

My males all act so very different from the females that I've never looked for visual differences. They're asleep now, but I'll check out crests tomorrow.

Bluesbird,
Do You mean the fact that they are usually louder? Boisteous? A little less sweet? I was given a pair and was told that the male was much nicer than the female. I found it to be just the opposite. She comes right up to me, looks me in the face and chatters sweetly to me. May be she just didn't like them?

The males love doing heart wings both to me and their mates, or all by themselves, like Audrey I couldn't say either sex is sweeter, but the males are usually quicker to fly to me when I enter their room, and they whistle more and louder and longer sequences. Meaning, a male might whistle a song, while a female whistles a line, or a mere chirp.

The males are very quick to fly to (protect) their mate if I touch her for some reason, and many love drumming their beaks on anything that will produce a percussion sound. They're show-offs!

The heart wings are the surest sign IMO.

I only have one pair but theyre crests ARE different te girl's is more curled not as high and the boy's is higher and more straight but it might be just mine

I'm trying to sex a young whiteface. Too young to have the mature feathers. I'm hoping it's a girl. Baby seems to have a feminine voice (soft and limited to single chirps) but this could just be the because it's 4 weeks of age. I am amazed at how ready this one is to nibble on millet. I noticed her (I hope) pecking at the drops of formula that had dropped on the paper towel in front of her. I brought over a millet spray and she started pulling of seeds and rolling them around with her tongue. So I made moist pellets available to her, a millet spray and of course water (in a dish and in a bottle). She has already taken flight. Seems pretty precocious.
Anyway who can tell the sex of such a young bird from the crest. They all look like punk rockers.

Anyway who can tell the sex of such a young bird from the crest. They all look like punk rockers.

HA! I love that, its so true.

I can't say that you can tell from the crest. Avenger is very much a boy and his crest is long and curled, and he does heart wings xD

My male strutts, shows off and is more vocal. He is not as cuddly as the females. he likes attention but he doesn't like to be cuddled or have his head scratched. My females are all cuddle-bugs.

Wonderful picture!