DID YOU KNOW?
The Cockatiel is one of only three species of parrot that have crests and long tails, the others being Horned and Ouvéa Parakeets.
Size:
29-33 cm (11-12.9 in)
Weight:
80-100 g (2.8-3.5 oz)
Subspecies including nominate:
one, with many colour mutations.
Colour Adult:
Male-mainly soft grey with long, darker grey tail, yellow and grey crest and yellow face, orange ear patch and white on wing. Beak dark grey. Eye dark brown. Female-crown, crest and cheeks grey washed with yellow, brighter on lores; ear coverts dull orange; lower back and rump to underparts pale grey barred with white and yellow; centre tail feathers same; side tail feathers yellow, banded dark grey.
Colour Juvenile:
Immature male as in adult female; beak horn-coloured tinged with grey.
More Information:
Content Sources:
BirdLife International
Cornell Lab of Ornithology/Birds of the World
Parrots: A Guide to Parrots of the World, Juniper and Parr, 1998
Parrots of the World, Forshaw and Cooper, 1977. 2010 edition
Parrots of the World, Forshaw, 2006.
The National Cockatiel Society
Parrots in Aviculture, Low, 1992.
Psittacine Aviculture, Schubot, Clubb and Clubb, 1992.
Captive Status:
Widespread in captivity.
Longevity:
20 yrs
Housing:
Walk in aviary, minimum length 2.1 m (7 ft) or indoor cage minimum length 1.8 m (6 ft).
Diet:
Mixture of small seeds: canary, millet and smaller amounts of oats, buckwheat, safflower; limited sunflower seed, millet spray; rearing food made from hard-boiled egg, green leaves and other vegetables, seeding grasses, fruits, complete kibble for cockatiels.
Enrichment:
Bathing; foot toys, destructible (non-toxic) toys, non-destructible (non-toxic plastic) toys, food-finder toys, preening toys, different texture and size hanging perch toys, fir branches, push-and-pull toys (sliding up and down), vegetable tanned leather toys.
Nest Box Size:
18 cm (7″) square, 30 cm (11.7″) high or 10″ x 10″ x 16″ (25.4 cm x 25.4 cm x 40.6 cm) vertical box.
Clutch Size:
1 to 7
Fledging Age:
5 weeks
Hatch Weight:
—
Peak Weight:
—
Weaning Weight:
—
World Population:
Unknown but described as abundant, stable.
IUCN Red List Status:
Least Concern
CITES Listing:
Not categorised
Threat Summary:
Not globally threatened. This species appears to have benefited from the addition of artificial watering for agriculture throughout its range.
Range:
Found throughout Australia, mainly in semi-arid regions.
Habitat:
Occurs in semi-arid areas, absent from wetter coastal areas; found in open woodland, acacia scrub, riverine forest, spinifex, farmland, orchards, savannas and along roadsides. Up to 400 m (1312 ft).
Wild Diet:
Feeds on a wide variety of seeds, especially Acacia, as well as wheat, sunflower and sorghum.
Ecology and Behaviour:
Northern birds are nomadic, southern birds are seasonal migrants.
Clutch and Egg Size:
1 to 7, rounded eggs, 24.5 x 19 mm (0.9 x 0.7 in).
Breeding Season:
North, April-July; south, August-December. Nest is generally in tree cavity near water.
