[Newbie Birdie Mom]

I've had my Tiel for a month now. He was about 14 weeks or slightly older when i got him. He or she is not very vocal, parent raised and very afraid of me...

Ive named him (i think maybe its a he) Big Bird, like the character on sesame street. I have two budgies and i kept calling him the big bird, so it stuck. Ive heard Big Bird make at least 3 different sounds, but not often. One of the them sounds like a dog whining, one is a contact call, and the other i dont know how to describe. He does like mirrors, and will stare at his reflection. I moved it in a spot in his cage he rarely goes to now. But, i read that males tend to like mirrors more.

Thank you in advance for any tips and advice. Here are some pics of Big Bird and my budgies. Not sure what type of cockatiel he is, or if he is even a he.

 

[Misstiel]

He is a pearl pied, and he is very handsome. I wouldn't know for sure whether he is male or female because he is still young. Male pearls will lose their pearl markings as they get older so that should let you know what he is as he grows. I think it is quite rare, but sometimes male pearl pied cockatiels will keep their pearl markings. You could always DNA him, too. And yes, male cockatiels seem to like mirrors A LOT, and they will usually become quite aggressive if you leave it in although there are the rare cases in which they don't.

 

[Pamela79]

I've had my Tiel for a month now. He was about 14 weeks or slightly older when i got him. He or she is not very vocal, parent raised and very afraid of me...

Ive named him (i think maybe its a he) Big Bird, like the character on sesame street. I have two budgies and i kept calling him the big bird, so it stuck. Ive heard Big Bird make at least 3 different sounds, but not often. One of the them sounds like a dog whining, one is a contact call, and the other i dont know how to describe. He does like mirrors, and will stare at his reflection. I moved it in a spot in his cage he rarely goes to now. But, i read that males tend to like mirrors more.

Thank you in advance for any tips and advice. Here are some pics of Big Bird and my budgies. Not sure what type of cockatiel he is, or if he is even a he. View attachment 94260
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He’s just beautiful if it’s a boy call him Ozzy if it’s a girl call her Perl

 

[Jo Hess]

He’s just beautiful if it’s a boy call him Ozzy if it’s a girl call her Perl

What a beautiful boy/girl. Too hard to tell at young age. The girls will keep pearling as my first girl did, but boys will lose most after first malt. Please don't keep tiel in with budgerigar as budgies will pick at feet of tiels etc, even to biting off their toes/legs. The tiny budgies will win out after-all. Plucky little things. Mine had different cages but in room flight, budgies would enter tiel's cage, follow, and pick at tiels feet injuring badly. I've had budgerigars since a young child but now only have tiels, free-flighted.