How to Identify Your Budgie's Sex

Co-authored by Hayley Heartfield

Last Updated: April 15, 2024 Fact Checked

If you just got a budgie, you may want to determine its sex. Learn which colors signify a male or female budgie. You can also watch your budgie's behavior or listen to it to determine the sex. If you're still having trouble, remember you can always consult your veterinarian or the breeder that sold you the budgie.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using Color to Identify Sex

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The cere is a fleshy covering which is located directly above its beak.^{[1]
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Research source} The budgie's nostrils are found on the cere (they look like two in-depth holes) making the cere easy to find. While most budgie's beaks are a yellowish color, the cere is a certain color depending on the bird's sex.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Hayley Heartfield
Bird Specialist

Expert Interview. 16 August 2021.}
2
Identify a male budgie. Most male budgies in the breeding mood have a bright or royal blue cere.^{[3]
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Expert Source

Hayley Heartfield
Bird Specialist

Expert Interview. 16 August 2021.} Sometimes, the vibrant color can appear purple-blue.^{[4]
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Research source} This color will lighten when the budgie is not in the breeding mood.^{[5]
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- If you've identified your budgie as male and notice his cere turn brown, he may have a medical condition.^{[6]
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3
Identify a female budgie. A female adult budgie's cere is usually white, pink or pale blue.^{[7]
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Expert Source

Hayley Heartfield
Bird Specialist

Expert Interview. 16 August 2021.} As she becomes more fertile and ready to produce eggs, the cere will become a darker tan or brownish in color.
- If the budgie is fertile and ready to breed, you may also notice the cere thicken and become crusty.^{[8]
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  Research source} The cere build up can be about a centimeter thick.^{[9]
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4
Consider the age of your budgie. If your budgie is less than 4 months old, it will have immature colors respective to their sex.^{[10]
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Expert Source

Hayley Heartfield
Bird Specialist

Expert Interview. 16 August 2021.}^{[11]
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Research source} Before this time, the colored area that shows sex will be pink or purple on a male and white or pale blue on a female. If your budgie hasn't had its first molt, has dark button eyes, and has bars coming from its head to cere, then it's less than four months old.^{[12]
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- If your budgie is immature or less than 4 months old, the cere on males will slowly turn deep blue and females will keep white or pale blue before showing tan.^{[13]
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5
Understand the challenges of using color to identify the sex. In addition to changes in color based on breeding mood, a budgie's cere may change for a number of other reasons. Female budgies may have hormonal imbalances that display a light blue cere for a long time or their environment may not be suitable for breeding. Some budgies have genetic mutations that show color differently in males. Recessive pieds and INO (albino, lutino and yellow face albino) variety males will have a pink cere as well as a few other mutations.
- For example, male albino budgies will have a pink cere color.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Identifying the Sex Using Other Methods

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1
Listen to your budgie. Males are known for being much noisier than female budgies. They will chirp or sing and the songs can be quite long. While female budgies make sounds too, they usually sound angry and less musical. However females can be just as cheerful just as males may be grouchy. ^{[14]
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- Keep in mind that behavior should not be solely taken into consideration when determining sex. Both sexes can display the same behavior.
2
Watch your budgie's behavior. Male budgies frequently bob their heads up and down or tap their beaks against their cage. They'll appear playful and outgoing. Female budgies may seem more aggressive if they're in the mood to breed, subdued, or if they're fertile.^{[15]
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- You may notice a male budgie tap against a female and regurgitate food to her. Don't worry. This is normal bonding behavior and will occur between same-sex pairs, too.
3
Ask someone knowledgeable. When you buy your budgie from the breeder or dealer, ask the budgie's sex, though be aware not all breeders are informed, especially if colony breeding. You can also purchase inexpensive DNA kits that also reveal the budgie's sex.
- Don't forget that you can ask your veterinarian to determine the sex of the budgie. This will be easier if the vet is familiar with treating birds.

Expert Q&A

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Question

How do you know if a female is pregnant?

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

Female birds lay eggs, but it can be difficult to know that she is carrying eggs. Often the first an owner knows is that there is an egg laying at the bottom of the cage. This can happen even if the female does not have a mate - although in this case the egg won't be fertile.

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Question

What causes a budgie to change colors?

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

Ceres change color because of interest in mating, aging, or as a result of ill health. If the bird is otherwise bright and well, and the color changes happen rapidly, it could be that he or she is feeling amorous at times.

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Tips

If the budgie is tame you should not have to grab the budgie. Simply let it sit on your finger or on a perch and examine the cere carefully.

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Sometimes a budgie can be sexed depending if a sex-linked mutation is present and you are aware of the parent's mutations.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Listen to the budgie — males tend to chatter and sing more, while females often sound angrier. But behavior isn't definitive.
Consider age — young budgies under 4 months have immature cere colors that can be misleading.
Watch behavior — males frequently bob heads and tap beaks, females can seem more aggressive.
Check the cere color: blue cere usually means male, white/tan cere usually means female.
Ask the breeder or vet if you're still unsure of gender based on the cere and behaviors.
DNA sexing kits are available if you want definitive proof of your budgie's gender.

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Warnings

Even if you do not wish to breed your budgies it can be handy to know what their genders are. Some illnesses and diseases are specific to gender and having the same sexes can help if you wish to prevent breeding completely.

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Remember that budgies are very fragile creatures and have very small, frail bones. Be gentle when handling, but make sure to hold them firmly.

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