- Breed Name: Cockatiel
- Scientific Name: Nymphicus hollandicus
- Other Names: Miniature cockatoo, weero, or quarrion
- Family: Cacatuidae
- Order: Psittaciformes
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Lifespan: 10 – 14 years (In the wild)
- Mass: 90 g (Large Adult)
- Size: 12 to 14 inches long
- Origin: Australia
- Habitat: Naturally, they are found in arid or semi-arid areas but always close to water
- Lifespan:
- 16-25 years or higher in captivity
- 10-15 years in wild
- Cockatiel is a member of the cockatoo family
- As a caged bird, cockatiels are second in popularity only to the budgerigar
- They are relatively easy to breed and a famous pet parrot
- Colour Mutations: In aviculture, there are 22 established colour mutations of Cockatiel
- Gender Identifications:
- Wild cockatiels are grey with visible differences between males and females
- Male grey cockatiels have yellow heads and the female has a grey head
- Juveniles Grey tend to look like females with pinker beaks
- Reproduction Facts
- Female lay1 egg about every 48 hours (2 days) until a clutch of 2-8 eggs is laid
- Cockatielsand other parrots are “indeterminate” egg This means parrots do not lay a specific number of eggs
- Feeding & Diet:
- In general, cockatiels eat approximately 15 grams of food per day
- Cockatiels enjoy a range of foods, including commercial birdseed, pelleted food, vegetables and fruits
- Seeds and pellets are the mainstay of cockatiel’s diet
- Feed your bird dark, leafy greens every other day
- Offer fruits such as apple, banana or melon once a week
- NEVER give your cockatiel any of the following foods, as they are extremely TOXIC:
- Alcohol
- Avocado
- Caffeine
- Chocolate
- Dried or Uncooked Beans
- Fruit Seeds
- Garlic
- High-Fat
- High-Sodium
- High-Sugar Foods
- Honey
- Mushrooms
- Onions
- Rhubarb
- Salt