| This is a controversial point. I'm sure that there is some truth in
this, but much depends on the individual birds. I have heard many
'sexing methods', and I remain dubious. Some of these so-called methods
are bumf.
However, I did read one (UK) avian expert who said that *behaviour*
was the best indicator of sex. This I do believe. We have two Greys -
one who favours high perches and the other low ones, usually the
floor. The latter Grey has 'mated' with the back of my hand (see a
previous note), and produced three (infertile) eggs as a result. Not
much doubt about her !
Also, the avian expert said that females tend to crouch more
(floor/perch), whilst males stand more upright. This applies perfectly
to our pair.
Another thing I heard: when you keep two birds of the same sex
together for long enough, then is is apparently not unusual to have one
acting out the part of the opposite sex. This is probably what has
caused much confusion in the past.
Jim Burke
PS Our pair don't breed (at least with each other). They have seperate
cages, but are allowed out daily. They merely tolerate each other.
She goes into the diagonally-opposite corner of the room and plays
at nest-building under a table, whilst he sits on the highest perch
in the opposite corner. Ne'er the twain shall meet, unless 4 years
is too short for parrotty courtship.
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