Male or Female? - Help identifying this bird

[gschneiders]

I got this bird today thinking it's a single factor yellow male, black face, purple breast, but now I am wondering if it can be a female. I have a yellow female and this bird is a bit darker than she is, however, the purple breast is not as bright as the other male I have. It's a juvenile bird going through its first molt and it has not sang yet.

Please let me know what you think.

Thank you!


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[elferoz777]

looks male to me

[finchbreeder]

I would think a male, however the brightest female and the dullest male = the same colour. So treat it as male, but be willing to be pleasantly surprised.

[garyh]

i would think hen,head colour on cocks is darker,breast colour is light ,no extended tail feathers,overal colour light,glad to be wrong cheers garyh

[gschneiders]

Thank you all that replied. my initial thought is that this is a SF yellow, as there is some green developing on it's neck and back, hence I thought it was a male.

Thank you for your comments.

[Gympie birds]

Hen

[Gympie birds]

Hen as hens in the yellow colour tend to have a dark pink beek during breeding season. I based this on past observations could be wrong though.

[Shane Gowland]

I'm thinking hen because you would expect a male to have longer tail feathers in early summer.

[finchbreeder]

Gary and Shane make a good point - that I had missed - re the tail feathers.

[gschneiders]

I'm thinking hen because you would expect a male to have longer tail feathers in early summer.

I agree with you all about the tail feathers, but this bird probably just completed it's first molt from its juvenile color. it was in a store with very poor food (millet only), and it is about 2/3 of the size of the other birds, hence the tail feathers are just starting to form. It is very possible it is a female though. I will let you know once I have the final answer. Just wanted to get the input of more experienced people as I haven't had any dilute nor SF yellow yet. I do have a yellow female (white breast, red head), and her yellow is much brighter than the one on this bird too.

The picture below is the bird now, besides a yellow female, green female and blue male.