How can you tell if your budgie is a boy or a girl?

The sex of adult budgies, or parakeets, can be determined by looking at their cere, or the patch of skin directly above their beaks. In males, the cere is blue or violet. Female budgies have a brown or white cere. The cere coloration develops at eight months to a year.

Cere coloration is fairly reliable, but not 100 percent accurate in budgies. The most accurate way to tell a budgie's sex is through DNA testing, which can be done by collecting a feather or blood sample. Blood testing and feather testing are equally accurate and do not require waiting until adulthood.