I’ve had four cockatiels over a period of 7 years, and have read a lot on them.

You can usually tell if it’s a male by the feet and beak color. It will be darker, like a gray or blue, but that’s not always 100%. Also if you just got the bird it might still be too young to tell.

When their crest (that’s the name of the feathers at the top of their head) is up that means that they are curious or scared. So since this is a new environment, the bird is probably a little of both. I would cover the cage a bit with a bed sheet and make sure it’s quite in the room it’s in.

Also, make sure his diet is not just seed. Zupreem is a really good brand of pellet that provides all the nutrients your bird will need. Also give him some apple, spinach leaves, other fresh fruits and vegetables. I would get some books from Borders or the library on cockatiels. There is a lot of no no’s and things to look out for to keep your cockatiel safe and healthy.

Also, they are really good at hiding illness, so look for sneezing, the consistency of their poo and redness in the back of their throats on their tongues. If you play or watch you cockatiel everyday you’ll be able to notice when something is wrong with him. I would take him to the doctor that specializes in exotic birds right away before it gets worse.