Bird Cockatiel

All About the Cockatiel

The bird cockatiel is a native animal of Australia and they are most usually found in areas near bodies of water. The cockatiel is a predominately nomadic animal, so they are constantly moving around to wherever they can easily find water and food. Most often, they are seen traveling in a pair or in a small flock, but it is not unheard of to see them traveling in packs of several hundred, as they head to a large body of water. Unfortunately for farmers, the cockatiel is known to go after and eat crops that have been cultivated. They are usually found in wetlands, bush lands and scrubland areas, and never in dry lands, like in the desert.

The average lifespan of the bird cockatiel is usually around 12 to 15 years. However, it is not unheard of for a cockatiel to live to be 20 years old and in rare instances, they have lived for 30 years. The oldest documented case was a cockatiel that live to be 36 years old. Just like humans, how much exercise the bird gets and what kind of food it eats, will make all the difference in how long it will live. The cockatiel is a very popular choice for those who want a bird for a pet, as they are only second in overall popularity, with the top choice being the parakeet.

The bird cockatiel is quite easy to breed, making them a good choice for bird breeders. The cockatiel is also sometimes called a Weiro or Quarrion, they are a member of the Nymphicus breed of birds. Recent studies have indicated that the cockatiel is a part of the Cockatoo Subfamily Calyptorhycnchinae, which are generally regarded as Dark Cockatoos. Due the cockatiel sharing all of the biological traits and features of the Cockatoo family, they are now considered a member of the Cacatuidae family. Those features they share include an erected crest, powder down, gallbladder, covered up cloudy layer and a display of colors such as purple, blue, aqua, green and turquoise.

The erected crest of the bird cockatiel is used to express the general mood the bird is experiencing. If the crest is in a vertical position, then the bird is usually excited or somewhat anxious. If the crest is slightly slanted, then the bird is more relaxed or in a more neutral state of mind. When the crest is flat, however, that means the bird is angry, upset and may begin acting defensively.