Cockatiel Birds

Native to Australia, cockatiel birds, commonly known as cockatoos or crested parrots, are very popular throughout the world. They belong to the Nymphicus genus of the Cockatoo family and are scientifically known as Nymphicus Hollandicus.

Cockatiel Bird Description
The best thing about cockatiels, is their brightly colored plumage. They come in a variety of color mutations, with different shades of green, blue and yellow. Wild cockatiels generally have a gray body with a yellow face and crest. However, the domestic cockatiels are available in a wide range of color mutations. Some of the color mutations include pied, albino, lutino, pearl, silver and cinnamon. Cockatiel birds are popular for their attractive crest and the bright orange patch that is present on their cheeks. They have a slender body and sleek long tail just like that of a parakeet. These are the smallest members of the cockatoo family and usually measure between 10 and 14 inches from the beak to the tip of the tail and weigh between 80 and 120 grams. The male bird is brightly colored and has a bright yellow face while the female has a gray face with traces of yellow. The female can be easily identified by the bars present on the underside of its tail.

Cockatiel Bird Habitat
Cockatoos are widely spread throughout mainland Australia, specially in the arid or semi arid regions, however, they are rarely seen in the most fertile southwest and southeast corners of the country and in the deepest Western Australian desserts. Cockatiels are generally seen in pairs or flocks, near water bodies. These birds are nomadic and move around in response to the availability of food and water.

Cockatiel Bird Food
Diet plays an important role in the overall health of your parakeet. They feed on a variety of grass seeds, berries, nuts and grain. However, avoid giving your cockatiel an all-seed diet, as fatty seeds will make them obese. Instead, try a pellet based diet that has a balance of fruits, vegetables and seeds. You could also feed them with cereals and bread. One more important thing is to have a cuttlebone in the cage, to provide the calcium that your bird needs. Also, do not forget to provide the birds with fresh drinking water daily. Cockatiels need about 10 to 12 hours of sleep daily to remain fresh and cheerful throughout the day. The normal life span of these birds is 15 to 20 years, however, a healthy diet and proper care can extend their lives quite a bit.

Cockatiel Bird Care
Cockatiels are extremely sociable and intelligent birds and turn out to be wonderful pets. They are friendly and charming and constantly need companionship. It is very easy to tame these birds as they are quite docile and gentle. It is a playful bird and will always try to communicate with its voice and behavior. Hanging upside down, bobbing of the head, wagging of the tail and whistling or singing are some of the ways by which it tries to seek attention.

Now, that you know so much about these beautiful creatures, get ready to own one! Hope you found this cockatiel bird information useful!