i'm very new to birds. i owned finches for 10 years but they aren't really a domesticated bird. i've only owned a cockatiel for 2 months now. I have a normal grey and from what i've heard when it molts in a month or two into it's adult feathers i should know if it's a male or female. I know nothing of this beak pounding behaviour except that my bird is quite energetic in engaging in this action and i wasn't sure what it meant. I wouldn't mind having a boy, no eggs to deal with since i'm not planning on breeding . Thank y'all for your responses. i'll follow up in a couple months and let y'all know what the molt shows as far as sex. good luck Melissa with ur eggs!