Last Updated: 2026-05-05
Hmmm, what are their genders...?
Written by: Muffin
Jojo is a cobalt opaline Quaker. Kiki is a white-eyed conure. The previous owner thought Jojo is male and Kiki is a female since Jojo is “meaner look with a shaper head” and Kiki is more “timid and quiet”.
Both Quaker and white-eyed conure are monomorphic, unless DNA tested, there is no certain way to tell their gender apart.
I would like to know their gender because I don’t want to be surprised by an egg lying on the cage when I lift the cover in the morning, however, a DNA tested could be stressful for them, so I have been guessing their genders.
In the first month or so, Jojo was definitely more active and vocal. Kiki followed Jojo around and the two always snuggle together. I saw Jojo as the protector for Kiki. Okay, maybe Jojo is a male.
A month later, Jojo starts to exhibit hormonal behavior. Not the usual Quaker territory response, but the butt-rubbing on Kiki. Kiki just stood there like a wood stud, apparently unable to comprehend the situation. Jojo is a bit older than Kiki according to the previous owner. So I guess Jojo entered the adolescent phase first. Per our description, the vet also thinks Jojo is likely a male giving how vocal he is. However, given how young they are, the vet said the “courting” like behavior could just be Jojo trying to take care of Kiki, like parenting, instead of sexual interaction.
Okay, Jojo might just be treating Kiki like his baby.
But WAIT! Jojo is starting to let Kiki feed him! Isn’t it more likely the male feeds the female? Isn’t it more likely the parenting role be the feeding one?
I was confused. Jojo not just requesting Kiki to feed him, Jojo is also actively robbing food from Kiki’s mouth. Even it was the same piece of food, somehow the one Kiki is eating is always more delicious.
Hmmm, let me pause and think. Could it be that Jojo is actually a female?
As day goes by, Jojo is butting Kiki more and more, and starting preening Kiki under the wing, even start to hop on Kiki’s back.
Hmmm, that makes Jojo more a male than female.
What about Kiki, is Kiki really a female?
At the beginning, Kiki was very quiet. But as Kiki easing into the new environment, Kiki became less timid and more curious, and even seems bolder than Jojo. Kiki was more willing to try out new food, new treat, and new toys. As Jojo persisting butt-pushing and food-robbing, Kiki starts to push back. And there I realized Kiki can be much more vocal than Jojo. Volume-wise, a white-eyed conure’s call is much louder. I have to start wearing headphones.
Could it be…that Kiki is also a male?
At first, I thought Jojo served the role of protector, but then I found that Kiki was the one that kept an eye on Jojo’s whereabouts. When I loaded Jojo on my finger and walked away from the cage, Kiki will take off, tried to fly to Jojo. When Jojo flew off, Kiki will quickly go to Jojo’s side.
There were times where Jojo’s exhibited aggression towards Kiki. Jojo will pull Kiki’s tail and head feature; will grab and bite Kiki’s feet; will scream endless at Kiki. When I isolated Jojo in his cage, Kiki will always be nearby Jojo’s cage, not spending much time far away unless I interacted with him.
Kiki seems more like the guardian. Sometimes I even think that Kiki has Stockholm syndrome, where Jojo being so mean to him, and yet, he stayed with Jojo.
As of this writing, my assessments on their genders are both males. Or I hope they are both male, so they won’t have to suffer from egg lying due to uncontrollable hormones.