GENERAL
Cockatiels are currently one of the most popular birds to be kept by pet bird owners. They are native to the outback regions of Australia, though primarily thrive in brushland, wetland and scrubland areas. Cockatiels are the only member of the genus “Nymphicus”, being previously considered to be a crested parrot variation. Cockatiels belong to the Cockatoo subfamily, and are classified as the smallest bird in that family. Cockatiels are sometimes called “Quarrion” or “Weiro” birds, though this is not very common. They were first described the the Scottish writer Robert Kerr, back in 1792. The “nymph” prefix in the Cockatiel genus is reflective of the habit of the early Europeans to name birds after beautiful ‘nymphs’, which are mythological creatures.
APPEARANCE
Cockatiels have a relatively dramatic appearance, which is mostly due to the crest of yellow feathers that is usually present on the top of their head. Cockatiels have primarily yellow heads, with reddish ‘blush’ marks around the cheeks. The feathers of the cockatiel are generally a bluish slate gray, with most of the notable blue accents being present in the wings and tail feathers. The wings often have yellow feather stripes,
BEHAVIOR
Cockatiels are one of the most popular species of bird for good reason – they are extremely sociable, friendly and easy to train. Cockatiels are able to comprehend both simple and complicated commands, as long as they are properly trained. However, if a cockatiel is not hand-raised from birth, it becomes much more difficult to encourage them to interact with humans. Most pet care supply stores have entire libraries dedicated to the behavior traits of hand-raised cockatiels, which are usually located in the bird care section. If you are trying to breed a cockatiel, it becomes slightly more complicated to understand their breeding behavior.
FEEDING
Cockatiels are most content when fed a varied diet that is based on a highly nutritious seed mix. There are some formulas that are designed specifically to meet the nutritional needs of cockatiels, though this doesn’t mean that you can’t add additional supplements to their diet. Most cockatiels will thrive off of a diet that includes seed mix, as well as fresh fruits or vegetables. If you choose to make your own bird food, it is essential that you ensure that it has all of the proper ingredients to keep your cockatiel healthy. For example, cockatiels need a high percentage of seeds, though seeds alone are not enough for them to gain proper nutrition.
HOUSING
Most cockatiels shouldn’t spend an extensive amount of time in their cages, due to their characteristic love of human interaction. However, it is still important that you provide your cockatiel with a spacious cage that enables them to have enough room to comfortably move from perch to perch. In addition to this, you should place your cockatiel’s cage in an area that is free of drafts or frequent cold air. Though cockatiels are relatively hardy, they may have negative health effects that result from being kept in a drafty area.