Gardeness Gardens & Aviaries
Flying Above the Rest
How to Distinguish the Gender of Owl Finches
As anyone with Owl Finches knows they can be very difficult to sex. This page will
help you determine the sex of your Owls. Please note that these are guidelines and not
all Owl Finches like to follow them. Some females may look like males, some males
may look like females.
help you determine the sex of your Owls. Please note that these are guidelines and not
all Owl Finches like to follow them. Some females may look like males, some males
may look like females.
If you have an Owl Finch and it sings a little tune that sounds like it's from some
computer game, you likely have a male - both males and females make the little "meep
meep meep" and long "meeeeeeee" sounds. We actually had a male once that never sang
so don't despair if you haven't heard a song. Sometimes if you separate a pair so they
can hear but not see each other a male will sing, calling to the female.
computer game, you likely have a male - both males and females make the little "meep
meep meep" and long "meeeeeeee" sounds. We actually had a male once that never sang
so don't despair if you haven't heard a song. Sometimes if you separate a pair so they
can hear but not see each other a male will sing, calling to the female.
Female, Male, Female, Male
If you have an Owl Finch and it lays an egg, you have a definite female. If you have
more than one in a cage and the eggs are fertile, you have both a male and female. If the
eggs are infertile, you could have a pair and they just didn't get it right the first time, or
you could have two females. If multiple eggs are laid per day you have more than one
female (ie. if in four days you get 8 eggs there's more than one hen in your cage).
more than one in a cage and the eggs are fertile, you have both a male and female. If the
eggs are infertile, you could have a pair and they just didn't get it right the first time, or
you could have two females. If multiple eggs are laid per day you have more than one
female (ie. if in four days you get 8 eggs there's more than one hen in your cage).
Distinguishing based on looks (the pictures taken are of four young birds, two males
and two females).
The head: The black on the head just above the beak usually extends further back up
the head on males. The black band that goes over the eye is also generally thicker in
males than females.
and two females).
The head: The black on the head just above the beak usually extends further back up
the head on males. The black band that goes over the eye is also generally thicker in
males than females.
Females
Males
Male grooming female.
The body: Owl finches have a black bar running across the front of their bodies. This bar
and the 'bib' that is formed above the bar can also be used in helping to determine sex. In
males, the bar is usually thicker or wider than in females. And the bib is usually a brighter
white in males, often looking 'dirty' in females.
and the 'bib' that is formed above the bar can also be used in helping to determine sex. In
males, the bar is usually thicker or wider than in females. And the bib is usually a brighter
white in males, often looking 'dirty' in females.
Female Owl with Lady Gouldian and Pintail Whydah males.
Males
Females
The wings: It's been said that it's possible to tell the sex of an owl by looking at the spots on
the primary feathers. Males will have brighter spots than females. I tried this method and
don't think it works very well - it's hard to see a difference if there even is one at all. But
have a look at the photos below and judge for yourself.
the primary feathers. Males will have brighter spots than females. I tried this method and
don't think it works very well - it's hard to see a difference if there even is one at all. But
have a look at the photos below and judge for yourself.
Females
Males
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