Our cockatiel "Doc" is 5 months old...we think he is male (he is a Pearl). How long will it take him to begin talking clearly...he says "pretty bird"--"what are you doing" and "Jimmy" and a few other things...he is saying something that sounds like an entire conversation but we cannot make out what he is saying. Also, we have been told that a MALE pearl will lose it's markings with the first molt...true?

thanks....Virginia R.

It appears Doc is well on his way to being an accomplished "talker". Cockatiel's mimicking of sounds usually aren't as clean and crisp as the larger talking birds, but clarity does vary with each bird.

Pearl males begin losing their pearl lacings at about five months. Those spots seem to simply fade away. Though some pearling is occasionally retained, it is more faded and lacks the desired pattern.