mating behavior in a male vs. a female question.

[bud]

How does a male parrot show that it wants to mate vs. the way a female parrot does?

I ask this because my Pionus sometimes lifts its butt and backs up, or does this sort of backward side step with the butt slightly raised. Is this mating behavior? If so, is it the mating behavior of a male or female? I ask this because it seems like something a female would do, but my bird was DNA'd as a male.

[Graehstone]

Hmmm, That is the mating behaviour of a female as far as my experience in these things goes, or rather that is exactly what my female 'tiel does when she is in the mood.
The male that I had would just grab hold of me and pull me closer to him and away he would start to wiggle. Or grab his favorite toy.

Hmmmm, curiouser and curiouser these birds huh?

:shock:

[bud]

i think I may have to re-think our whole realtionship now. It makes me wonder how precise DNA testing really is.

[Graehstone]

Well I figure it's maybe just like with real folks nowadays. Used to be that you could say "If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck and flys like a duck it's probably a duck." :D
Well, nowadays if it wears a skirt and has breasts does'nt necessarily mean its a girl. :? :oops: :shock:
Maybe you have one that's just special.
As to DNA testing I could not help you there as I have never availed myself of that particular method of sexing. :?:

[Monica]

It really does sound quite like that of a female bird, lifting rear end and quite possibly making little chirps in some birds... And males will usually grab something and, from the looks of it, will move their tail back and forth...

Either the DNA testing was wrong, or it may be right... I've got a bourke that shows all signs of being a male (colors, size, etc), accept that I have heard from him the female chirps and tweets. I've heard of another bourke that mostly looks like a male in all ways, but was DNA sexed as female (a very large female, larger than normal).

Birds can act like the opposite sex and plenty have before... There are some birds who are outright gay (saying they have no interest in the opposite sex and prefer to be with another of their own sex).

I'd say that you might try getting a DNA test done from another place and see if the results are the same...

[The Outlaw]

Bud:

My Severe was DNA'd twice with 2 different results. I was told my "male" rescue was DNA'd by the rescue. However, when I caged him with my REAL male, I knew there was something dreadfully wrong. I sent Avian Biotech a sample and sure enough, I had a female. That wasn't going to work for I did NOT want to breed Severes so she had to be rehomed.

I suggest if in doubt, get a collection kit from Avian Biotech and send in a blood sample. I think it runs about $20 and the test kit is free. I have NEVER had a bad reading from them. And I've DNA'd 15 birds with them.

I also think this sounds more like a hen's behavior. What difference does it really make?

THE OUTLAW

[bud]

I guess there are trade offs both good and bad if he is really a she.
There's having to worry about egg laying and all the problems that come along with it such as excessive laying and complications such as egg binding. I'll also have to stop touching the birdie on the back and figure out how to transform its name into something more girly sounding.
On the more positive side, male Pionus tend to become more aggressive than females as they reach maturity. I have been dreading potential behavioral problems associated with this as he is now reaching 2 years of age. Now if he is really a she, then maturity is less likely to have such drastic impact on her sweet behavior.

Thanks for the suggestion about the testing. I'll also call the vet that did the initial. Maybe he can do something for me since he may have screwed up the first one.

[primrose04]

This is exactly what both my female tiels do. They seem to always find a corner and chirp and push themselves backwards into the corner with her tail as high as she can get it. One will tear up any paper that is around her at the time too. Lasts about 20 min then she comes out of the corner and is fine. :D

[Tiki]

I have used DNA sexing here in Australia and it has been very accurate (feather test). Maybe your bird is gay!

[The Outlaw]

Jodi:

Just like human teenagers too old to actually mate successfully, it doesn't mean they don't try their darndest. Sounds pretty par for the course. Margarita is totally hormonal and she was born in 2000.

THE OUTLAW