SEXING YOUR BIRD
Visually there is no true way to find out if your African Grey is a male or female. The only true way to find this out is through DNA sexing. Sometimes if you have purchased a bird from a breeder you may find that this has been done for you, usually by sending some of the birds egg shell, feathers or blood for testing, but not all breeders do this. DNA sexing can be done at any stage in the birds life using blood or feather samples. Although it is a safe and easy procedure usually done by a trained vet it could be costly.
So it is really up to the owner to decide if knowing a birds sex is that important. In my experience with greys I usually find that the sex of a bird usually becomes evident after a period of time anyway, usually through its courtship displays to its owner. Male birds will not think twice about jumping on to an arm or leg or anything they can grab hold of to mate with you if the urge becomes too much! After all if they are not already paired with another grey they will come to view you " the owner" as its beloved mate! I find although females do display a little for you and regurgitate their food to feed you ( this is done as a bonding gesture by both males and females ) there is the absence of the actual mating process, you may find that they will lay down flat while making squeeky noises while they let you stroke their back ( replicating the posture they will take usually when the male hops on to the females back to begin mating ).
But even so if your bird is caged and not tame this will not be evident to you. Another theory people have is that you can sex a " Grey " by the shape of the white eye patch and by head shape. It is thought that the males eye patch is rounder than the females and the males head is rounder than the females longer flatter head along the top. But this is just a guide an not always accurate. So if you really need to discover the sex of your African Grey, DNA is the only way! But do we really need to know if we do not intend to breed them? The choice is yours!! Hope this helps, any questions feel free to ask as always!! :)
So it is really up to the owner to decide if knowing a birds sex is that important. In my experience with greys I usually find that the sex of a bird usually becomes evident after a period of time anyway, usually through its courtship displays to its owner. Male birds will not think twice about jumping on to an arm or leg or anything they can grab hold of to mate with you if the urge becomes too much! After all if they are not already paired with another grey they will come to view you " the owner" as its beloved mate! I find although females do display a little for you and regurgitate their food to feed you ( this is done as a bonding gesture by both males and females ) there is the absence of the actual mating process, you may find that they will lay down flat while making squeeky noises while they let you stroke their back ( replicating the posture they will take usually when the male hops on to the females back to begin mating ).
But even so if your bird is caged and not tame this will not be evident to you. Another theory people have is that you can sex a " Grey " by the shape of the white eye patch and by head shape. It is thought that the males eye patch is rounder than the females and the males head is rounder than the females longer flatter head along the top. But this is just a guide an not always accurate. So if you really need to discover the sex of your African Grey, DNA is the only way! But do we really need to know if we do not intend to breed them? The choice is yours!! Hope this helps, any questions feel free to ask as always!! :)
