Cockatiel
The cockatiel is an Australian bird and the smallest member of the cockatoo family, which the crest gives away.
It is the second most commonly kept pet bird in the world after the budgerigar.
Wild cockatiels are grey with a yellow face and orange cheek patch, brighter in males; lutino, pied, pearl and cinnamon are captive mutations. They are gentle, affectionate and among the easiest parrots to tame, and males in particular whistle tunes readily. Cockatiels are also prone to night frights — panicking and thrashing in the dark — which is a specific and well-documented trait of the species.
- Origin
- Inland Australia
- Size
- 30–33 cm including tail; 80–100 g
- Lifespan
- 15–25 years
- Diet
- Pellets with vegetables; seed as part not whole
- Temperament
- Gentle, affectionate, easily tamed, sensitive
- Noise
- Moderate; whistling rather than screaming
Related: Budgerigar
3 cockatiel photos, newest first
Living with a cockatiel
Leave a dim night light near the cage. Cockatiels are prone to night frights and can injure a wing or break blood feathers thrashing in complete darkness.
They produce a fine feather dust, as all cockatoos do, which matters for anyone in the house with asthma and means an air purifier is worth having.
An all-seed diet is the commonest cause of ill health in the species. Use pellets as the base with fresh vegetables.
Females can become chronic egg layers, which depletes calcium seriously. Watch for that, and keep the bird away from non-stick fumes, aerosols and smoke.
General guidance, not veterinary advice. Individual birds vary, and anything about a specific animal is a question for a vet who has seen it.
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