Hi! Your budgie looks like a young female to me, since females usually have whitish-blue ceres (nostrils), while young males usually have pink/purplish ceres.
I would keep this budgie if I was you, even if she is a female.
Female budgies can live together and form a strong bond just like male budgies, it all depends on the single birds and their personalities.
I figured it was female and would prefer male so I've swapped for another budgie which I feel will become a male as it has a more purple/pinkish cere? The last one had prominent white nostrils. What do you feel about this one?
This budgie is far more likely to be a male, but I could be wrong, so I suggest you to wait for users with more experience who will be able to confirm that or disagree with it.
Thank you; his name is Frank
He has settled in so well, been exploring his cage flying around and climbing lots, as soon as I put him in his cage he started chirping away.
Why were two threads separate threads made on the same topic?
I just replied to the other thread only to now find it is invalid so I've had to go back and delete that thread.
Please do not make multiple threads regarding the same topic - it is unnecessary.
The first budgie (which you "exchanged") was definitely female and the second budgie (Frank) is male.
Additionally, please do not use emoticons as they show up as gibberish and I have to take the time to delete them from posts.
Only the forum smilies will work on the forums.
You received a Visitor Message from me back on May 19th regarding this same matter.
I didn't realise the first post had posted as my phone went wrong. Sorry.
I read up online about pairing budgies and read that getting a male to go with a female is easier to bond than putting 2 females together?