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Two look-alike conures who stayed with us, side by side on a towel over a cage top: both green, with grey-brown heads
📷 Two guests: boy or girl?
  • One drop, from a nail
  • $90
  • Lab result in 2–3 weeks

Is my bird male or female?

Bird DNA sexing

Most parrots look identical whichever sex they are, so looking at your bird does not settle it. We take a drop of blood from the quick on a nail, send it to a certified lab, and an official certification of your bird’s sex comes back in two to three weeks.

From Samantha’s Book

Even Samantha Guessed Wrong

Miko, a green-cheeked conure with a red front, held snugly in two cupped hands
Miko

Believed: a boyDNA test: a girl

I had long believed that Miko, my lovely conure, was a boy. However, as she grew older, I began to notice mixed behaviors that seemed to signal both genders. I decided to send a DNA test, which confirmed that she was indeed a female. It took months to adjust, but it certainly explained some of the behaviors I had observed!

Samantha, Parrot Parenting

At a glance

DNA sexing in one minute

Price

$90

per bird · $100 for an extra-large bird, nail clip included

XL grooming prices apply to large birds such as African greys. We do not groom macaws or cockatoos.

  1. The sample
  2. The lab
  3. The certificate
  • Lovebirds, who stayed with us

    Lovebirds

  • Lovebird, who stayed with us

    Lovebird

  • Parrotlet, who stayed with us

    Parrotlet

A few of the birds who have stayed with us.

Why owners test

Most Parrots Keep It A Secret

In most parrots a male and a female wear the same colours and the same shape, and the folklore about eye colour or head shape is not reliable enough to name a bird on. A few species do differ by sight, eclectus most obviously. For the rest, one drop of blood settles it.

  • Conure
  • Lovebird
  • Caique
Three of our guests. In each of their species, a boy and a girl look alike.

Why Owners Want To Know

  • Before two birds share a cageKnow who you are pairing up before you put them together.
  • Eggs can happenOnly a hen lays eggs, and she can lay them with no male around.
  • Paperwork that travelsThe certificate goes with your bird if it is ever paired, registered or rehomed.
  • A name that fitsPlenty of owners simply want to know who they have.

How it works

From One Drop To A Certificate

$90 per bird, a nail clip included. The sample takes about twenty minutes here; the lab takes two to three weeks.

  1. Pick A TimeBook a 15–30 minute visit in our grooming calendar, or ask for it when you book a stay.$90 per bird
  2. One Drop, From A NailA nail is clipped a little shorter than a normal trim and one drop of blood is collected from the quick. No feathers plucked, no surgery.About 20 minutes
  3. A Certified LabThe sample goes to a certified laboratory for DNA analysis. The answer is the lab's, never a guess of ours.Certified lab
  4. Your CertificateAn official certificate of your bird's sex, in writing, to keep. The lab work is in the price, so there is nothing more to pay.2–3 weeks

Before you book

Four Things Good To Know

  • It answers one questionMale or female, and nothing else. It is not a health check; for that, see an avian vet.Find An Avian Vet
  • The nail clip is part of itThe sample comes from the quick of a nail, so the trim and the sample are one step.
  • It can be done during a stayAsk for it when you book a stay. The certificate arrives after your bird is home.Book A Stay
  • Related birds? That is another testWhether two birds are related is a different DNA test, and we offer that too.DNA Relationship Test

Questions

Questions Owners Ask

How much does bird DNA sexing cost?

$90 per bird, and $100 for an extra-large bird. A nail clip is included in that rather than added to it. XL grooming prices apply to large birds such as African greys. We do not groom macaws or cockatoos.

Why can you not just tell by looking?

Because in most parrot species there is nothing to look at. Males and females of a conure, an African grey or an amazon are the same colour and the same shape, and the folklore about eye colour or head width is not reliable enough to name a bird on. A handful of species genuinely do differ by sight — eclectus most obviously — and for everything else a DNA test is what settles it.

How is the sample taken, and does it hurt?

A nail is clipped a little shorter than an ordinary trim, and a drop of blood is collected from the quick. It is the same moment as a nail trim and it is stopped the same way, with styptic powder. There is no surgery, and nothing is pulled out of a feather follicle.

How long does the result take?

Two to three weeks, and it comes back as an official certification of your bird's sex. The timing is the laboratory's rather than ours, which is why it is given as a range.

Can it be done while my bird is boarding?

Yes — ask for it on the booking form and the sample is taken during the stay. The certificate arrives after your bird is home, because the lab takes its two to three weeks either way.

2–3 weeks DNA sexing · Mississauga

Boy or girl? Know for sure.

One drop of blood from a nail, a certified lab, and a certificate in two to three weeks.

  • $90 per birdLab work and a nail clip included.
  • No surgeryA drop of blood from the quick of a nail.
  • A lab certificateOfficial, from a certified lab, in writing.
  • During a stay, tooAsk on the booking form; no second trip.

Birds only · 4578 Gatineau Ave, Mississauga

  • We had an amazing experience at BST! Our Quaker parakeet was boarded with Samantha, and she took excellent care of her the entire time. She gave us daily updates, which really put our minds at ease and showed how attentive she was. She’s super professional, kind, and clearly knows what she’s doing with birds. We also had our parrot’s beak, nails, and wings trimmed by her, and everything was done perfectly. Would definitely recommend her to anyone looking for trustworthy bird care.
    marbRead On Google: marb’s review, opens in a new tab
  • Thank you Samantha for taking such good care of Birdie while we were on vacation. We really appreciated the daily updates you sent us. This was like a 5 star resort for Birdie! Thank you!
    Ashley PunnRead On Google: Ashley Punn’s review, opens in a new tab
  • Couldn’t recommend Bird Sitting Toronto enough. We came from nearly an hour away because a friend recommended BST, and it was 100% worth it. They took such great care of our conure and kept us updated with adorable videos every single day, which gave us so much peace of mind while we were away. You can really tell how much they care for the animals they look after. They also gave us such a thoughtful gift after our bird’s stay, which genuinely meant a lot to us and was such a kind touch. Amazing experience from start to finish, I would definitely go with them again anytime we need bird sitting. 5 stars all the way!
    Muhammad NaqviRead On Google: Muhammad Naqvi’s review, opens in a new tab
  • BST took such great care of my little birds. I went on vacation for 5 days and loved watching the daily updates Samantha shared. My birds were active and happy during their stay so I felt reassured during my trip!
    Zara HamidRead On Google: Zara Hamid’s review, opens in a new tab
  • My baby has only been with her for a few days, but I already feel so relieved and grateful that I found her. I was so nervous being away from him, but she made me feel comfortable right away and has been so kind and reassuring. She sends me updates, which honestly means so much, and by the second day he already looked so settled, comfortable, and playful. He usually takes time to adjust, so seeing him like that so quickly says a lot. You can really tell she loves these birds and cares for them so well. Definitely recommend to anyone feeling nervous leaving their bird.
    ARead On Google: A’s review, opens in a new tab
  • Hello, I had our gc conure with BST for over 3 weeks. I am very grateful for their amazing service and personalized treatment of both our bird and us. Receiving daily updates was sweet and reassuring for me and my son! And gifts at the end were something beyond our expectations!!! I would highly recommend to anyone looking for boarding for their bird. And I wish everyone’s small businesses were so reliable and highly professional as BST!! My best wishes to the family and their flock :) Maria
    Maria VRead On Google: Maria V’s review, opens in a new tab
  • Latest boarding experience with BST, Bams the greencheek had a great 1 week stay. It Helped tremendously with her previous night time restlessness as she came back and had full night time sleeps. So I guess these little guys love having bird vacations too?? Thanks for hosting her BST
    Raz JRRead On Google: Raz JR’s review, opens in a new tab
  • If i could rate BST a 10 star, I would. The level of care and compassion is top notch. Thank you so much for taking care of my mom's bird Keno. She was so happy with your daily updates and videos, it meant the world to her. You are truly amazing 👏 we will definitely come back!
    Lucy TelesRead On Google: Lucy Teles’s review, opens in a new tab
  • Amazing service! My bird was well taken care of during her appointment and looked fantastic after. She had her nails and beak done. Very quick and efficient, so she was not stressed out during the visit. Pricing is also very fair the quality of service delivered.
    Amrita GRead On Google: Amrita G’s review, opens in a new tab
  • I can’t say enough good things about Bird Sitting Toronto and Samantha. Rehoming my two budgies, Leila and Kiwi, was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make, and she handled the entire process with so much care, compassion, and professionalism. From the very beginning, Samantha made me feel heard and understood. She took the time to find a home that truly aligned with what I wanted for my birds, and the level of detail and thoughtfulness she put into the adoption process gave me so much peace of mind. When she shared the report about their new home, I honestly felt emotional reading it. Knowing they are going to a loving, experienced family who genuinely cares about giving older birds a beautiful life means everything to me. If you’re ever in the incredibly difficult position of needing to rehome your birds, I wholeheartedly recommend Bird Sitting Toronto. Samantha goes above and beyond to make sure both the animals and their humans are supported every step of the way. Thank you again for everything I’m so, so grateful. 💛
    Roshi RoshiRead On Google: Roshi Roshi’s review, opens in a new tab

Bird grooming in Mississauga · Serving the GTA

Time for a trim? It takes 15–30 minutes.

Nails, wings, beak or DNA sexing: pick a time in our calendar and bring your bird to our home. Gentle handling by Samantha, who has groomed birds several times a week since 2021.