Is my cockatiel a boy or girl.

Question
Hi,  I got my bird when it was about 8 weeks old.  I have hand fed it and it is a great pet.  I love it very much.  I thought it was a girl but it is havinging it's adult molt. Now I wonder if it might be a boy.  It loves the mirror, it whistles but it also squawks and hisses.  It is losing some of the bands on the tail as it molts and it seems to be getting more yellow on the face.  I am doing a science project about it and the project is about wether my bird is male or female.  Could you give me some tips on how to know for sure.  The research I have done has not been that helpful because my bird seems to fit both male and female characteristics.  I dont know if I should call it Queen Latifa or King Tut.
Thanks-
Katie

Answer
HI KATIE
IT IS VERY HARD TO TELL IN COCKATEILS THE SEX OF THE BIRD.  I AM NOT EXACTLY ONE HUNDRED PER CENT MINE IS A BOY, BUT IF YOUR GOOD OR KNOW A BREEDER THEY CAN TELL BY FEELING THE PELVIC AREA TO FEEL HOW CLOSE IT IS OR NOT.
SOMETIMES THE MALE WILL LOOK DEEPER IN COLOR AND TIMES NOT.  JUST WATCH ITS DAILY HABITS, IF IT LIKES A MIRROR THEN IT DOES SOUND LIKE A MALE.  I DO NOT KEEP A MIRROR IN MY CAGE, I WANT THE BIRD TO FOCUS ON ME.  THIS IS WHY IT IS HISSING, IT WILL GET TO NOT LET YOU PICK IT UP AND GET INTO THE BREEDING MODE.
MINE ARE MOLTING, THAT IS NATURAL FOR SPRING TO LOOSE ALOT OF FEATHERS AND DOWN.  YOUR BIRD SOUNDS LIKE MINE, BUT I FEEL I DO HAVE A MALE.  MALES TALK QUICKER AND BETTER THAN GIRLS ALSO.  TRY AND TEACH IT TO SAY SOMETHING.  THEY ARE NOT THE BEST TALKERS, MINE SAYS I AM A PRETTY BOY AND GOOD NIGHT, SWEET DREAMS, THAT IS ABOUT IT.

KIND REGARDS
PATT
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