We have a 3-4 month old Lutino cockatiel. We cannot determine the sex, so we call it Zoe, and we don't know if she'll eventually learn to talk. At what approximate age would they naturally begin to mimic/talk? She has picked up the wolf whistle and during the morning and only when we're not in the room she whistles and chirps happily She is hand-tamed and very lovable. Some books say they are more likely to speak after a year - is this true? Also, because she tries to whistle and chirp a lot, does that mean she's apt to talk? Could she be a he? Would greatly appreciate your advice, and thanks.
Nancy and Steve
Nancy and Steve,
Lutinos are one of the most difficult mutations to sex, especially at such a young age. If you happen to know the background of your bird, it could be possible to sex the bird genetically. Since males are much more vocal than females, if your bird is still wolf whistling and chirping after his/her first molt then it is probably a male.
Cockatiels usually begin to talk at around 8 to 10 months of age. Male cockatiels are generally the better talkers even though it is not unheard of for some females to learn to talk as well. As vocal as your bird is now, it will probably be an excellent student.