Ask Lafeber

I don’t want to be wrong about my birds

I have a blue bird and white bird and a yellow and green one both of their nose cere looks pink and the other one looks blue but I really don’t know for sure

Hi Janee,

The cere is an indication of gender in some parakeets, once they are a year old at least. It is blue for a male, and gets very bright blue when the bird is in breeding condition. Females have a white cere that turns brown and crusty when she is in breeding condition. But with many color mutations, there is no easy way to determine sex without a blood test, unless the bird lays an egg. With most pale, pastel and solid colors, the cere remains a pale pink or lavender for both males and females.

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda