Cockatiel

by Angela Vuckovic

Published: April 16th, 2021

About Cockatiel

Size

11-13 inches

Lifespan

15-25 years

Bird Species

Cockatiel

Sounds

Chatterer; Vocal Communicator

Interaction

Highly Social

Comparable Breeds

Budgerigar Parakeet, Goffin's Cockatoo

Colors

Grey, Yellow, White, Various

Cockatiel General Info

One of the world’s most recognizable birds, Cockatiel is the go-to ideal choice for an avian family pet, due to their friendly and easygoing personality. Of course, considering that they have a lovely temperament, a knack for learning, and flashy looks – it’s no wonder they’re so popular! These cockatoos are well known as the ultimate pet bird, well suited for the beginners or as a children’s pet. With these traits, training them will be a simple and fun task. Their hilarious antics, intelligence, and an outgoing character make them loved all across the world. Cockatiels are amongst the most loved parrots and are one of the most popular pet parrot breeds around. And here are the most important things you need to know about these adorable avians.

Cockatiels are fun and friendly- a perfect bird for children and beginner pet owners.

Native Region/Natural Habitat

Like many of their cousins, Cockatiels originated in the Australian continent, thriving in the arid scrubland of that nation’s hinterland. Coming from those harsh conditions, cockatiels adapted perfectly to the milder climates all over the world, quickly becoming the perfect image of a hardy and healthy pet, requiring very little in order to be happy and strong. In the wild, they can be spotted roosting en-masse in large tree canopies, where their raucous singing creates a proper chaotic symphony of parrot lingo. These parrot flocks are often found near water sources, and can number several hundred at any given time. Sadly, wild cockatiels can be considered as pests – these huge flocks can often decimate crops and cause great damage for the farmers. They are found over most of the Australian continent, with the exception of the most arid deserts towards the south.

Overall Description

Cockatiels have a very showy appearance and are treasured for it. One of their distinctive markings is their crest. Many of its different positions will signify your pet’s current mood. When your cockatiel is angry or scared, their crest will be flat, and when they’re excited, it becomes pointy and vertical.

They grow in length to about 13 inches, and their long tail feathers make for a good part of their size. With proper care, healthy diet and exercise, these birds can reach a lifespan of up to 25 years. Another distinct feature of a basic, natural cockatiel appearance is their coloration and the various little details on their plumage. Also, cockatiels are not very large – a fact that might be attractive to owners with little free space around the house. At 30 to 33 cm (12 to 13 inches), the cockatiel is the smallest of all the cockatoos – but has plenty of spirit to boot. In the wild, cockatiels display a pronounced sexual dimorphism – meaning that the males and females tend to look totally different, mainly in the coloration.

Speech and Sounds

These cockatoos love to express themselves vocally! With plenty of room and natural light, they’ll soon liven your house up with their familiar and subtle melody. Don’t hesitate to put on some music or whistle melodies yourself if you want to expand their repertoire. They’re very inquisitive and will soon pick up simple tones and voices to repeat. You should try teaching them, as they are sure to love the interaction. It shouldn’t come as a surprise to realize that your little cockatiel is a true music aficionado! They can memorize moderately complex melodies and tunes and repeat them in a melodious style at their leisure. In a musical home, a cockatiel will feel thrilled – their natural desire to sing will be all the more accentuated!

Colors

Cockatiels are known for their coloring, which is one of the many small details that make them unique.Cockatiels are usually grey on their body, with white wing feathers to complete that balanced and dashing look. Of course, cockatiel breeders managed to create a string of unique color combinations in captive birds. Today there is an almost endless choice of colors, with pure yellow, platinum, pied, lutino, and white being the most popular. Still, you can’t beat the charm of a cockatiel’s natural colors. You can easily spot which bird is the male and which the female, as males have a yellow head. Another unique and cute mark of cockatiels are the red circles on their cheeks – as if they are blushing! The unique and cute looks, complete with distinct “blushing” cheeks, might be Cockatiel’s best-known trait.

The unique and cute looks, complete with distinct “blushing” cheeks, might be the Cockatiel’s best-known trait.

Care and Feeding

You should provide a source of fresh water each day where they can stay hydrated and take a bath. Cockatiels will absolutely love it! Ruffling their feathers in water and taking little goofy baths is a delight for these parrots. It is also one of their daily activities in the wild, so consider it a natural need. Of course, this water will have to be replaced very often. When diet is considered, most of their food needs will be taken care of by the usual Cockatiel seed mix found in pet stores. It is balanced and provides all the essential nutrients your pet bird needs. You can also include additional vitamins and proteins in their diet with an occasional piece of apple, banana, or carrot.

And don’t forget to surprise them with a cuttlebone, which will help them sharpen their beak and replenish their intake of calcium. Don’t be fooled by their diminutive stature and a small beak – they can be quite strong and that beak will need the exercise.

As it is the case with all pet birds, Cockatiels need a spacious cage to call their home, preferably one with sidebars, as these birds love to climb. The cage should be kept at room temperature and in a draft-free, dry space. Don’t make the mistake and get a cage that is too small, thinking that a cockatiel is small as it is. Parrots – no matter the size – need as much space as possible. Otherwise, they can become a depressed and unhealthy bird, picking out their feathers and developing health issues.

Health and Common Conditions

In general, these are strong and resilient birds, with longevity to boot. However, some key clues that indicate something is wrong should be remembered. These include apathy and overall lack of activity, puffy and ruffled feathers or loss of appetite and weight. Although these symptoms are rare, they can still occur. In general, cockatiels are strong and adapt easily to common surroundings. With just the basic effort and care, your pet will thrive and be happy! On average, cockatiels can live between 16 to 25 years, making them great companion pets. The record holding cockatiel in captivity lived for an amazing 36 years.

Take care of your cockatiel’s needs – interaction and plenty of space are important for its health.

Personality & Behavior

Cockatiels are friendly and social, playful birds. A wide and spacious cage will do them good, as they require plenty of exercise and room to play. Perches and parrot toys will help keep this smart bird entertained, but it’s best to get a pair of Cockatiels to keep each other company while you’re at work.

These affectionate birds also love to socialize and interact. Devote a bit of your time to play with your pet, teaching them new tricks or simply giving them attention- without your company; your feathered pet is bound to get moody and aggressive. Either way, if you opt for a cockatiel pet you are opting for a goofy and affectionate friend that will never fail to make you smile!

Photo credit: Eric Isselee/Shutterstock; pinkjellybeans/Shutterstock; Nick Beer/Shutterstock

Angela Vuckovic

A proud mama to seven dogs and ten cats, Angela spends her days writing for her fellow pet parents and pampering her furballs, all of whom are rescues. When she's not gushing over her adorable cats or playing with her dogs, she can be found curled up with a good fantasy book.

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Springtime is such a joyful time of the year. The harsh and gloomy winter days are finally over, and nature is awakening – the sun is shining, trees are blooming, and life erupts all over again. But that doesn’t mean that there are no downsides to this season. From spring allergies to spring shedding, there are also quite a few things that don’t spark joy when spring comes. One of those unexpected things that become a downside of spring when you’re a dog is flowers. Yup. Those gorgeous, lush-smelling blooms that appear in the spring can pose a threat to your dog, as many spring flowers are toxic to our canine friends.So without further ado, let’s see which of these pretty, colorful flowers are potentially dangerous for dogs – so you’ll know exactly which of them to avoid planting in your garden or putting in a vase.Which Spring Flowers Are Toxic to Dogs?As we all know, dogs are inquisitive and love to nibble and sniff all sorts of odd things, flowers included. This is why you should be vigilant in the spring when many potentially toxic plant varieties are in season. Keep an eye out for the following flowers when walking your pet out and about or when picking out seeds for your flower beds!Daffodils

Should I Bathe My Dog During Winter?

Should your pet forego bubbly baths when the temperatures drop or should you bathe your pooch regularly all year long? There’s no universal answer to this question as situations can be wildly different from one pet or the other – how harsh is the climate you live in, would you bathe your pooch in a well-heated bathroom or not, how thick is their coat, and so on. All of these factors will influence the answer you’re given! To find out what’s the verdict for your own pooch when it comes to winter bathing, read on.Should I Bathe My Dog During Winter?The fact that it’s cold outside doesn’t have to mean your four-legged bestie has to smell funky for weeks on end – at least not in most cases. You can bathe your dog in the winter as long as you follow some ground rules that are meant to ensure your dog's well-being. Here’s what you need to know:#1 Don’t Do It Too OftenDogs don't need bathing as frequently as we do (duh), so if your dog isn't visibly dirty or smelly, you should be able to extend the time between baths to a couple of weeks. Overbathing can strip essential oils from your dog's skin, which can lead to dryness and irritation, so too much bathing isn’t good either. You can probably get through the winter with just one or two baths.#2 Keep The Water ToastyEnsure that the water you use for the bath is warm, not hot. Hot water can dry out your dog’s skin, so don’t be tempted to overly increase the water temperature just because the weather is cold outside. Of course, you should also make sure the bathing area is warm, and have towels ready to dry your dog quickly.#3 Fast Drying Is Key 

Dogs Trained to Detect Ancient Remains Expedite Search for Graves

Canada’s recent discovery of hundreds of tiny unmarked graves attributed to the residential school system has created not only cross-country outrage but also a determination to locate and repatriate the remains of all children who left home to attend these schools but never returned.Within a few weeks, the number of unmarked graves throughout Canada had quickly grown to over 10,000 and the ability to locate and identify additional sites (that would date back decades), had become almost impossible. Particularly since many of the schools had since been razed and pinpointing potential burial areas leaned heavily toward guesswork.The search had to be done respectfully – meaning without the use of large, excavation equipment – however, the need to cover a vast range of land in a timely manner was a challenge.That’s when the search teams decided to bring in the dogs.Part of the Ottawa Valley Search and Rescue Dog Association, German Shepherds, Recce and Taz are proficient in detecting older, archeological remains with drill work that has included using older cemeteries as their training ground. In fact, Historic Human Remains Detection Dogs have been used throughout North America and Europe to identify human remains in archaeological sites that date back hundreds of years… and longer. These dogs can pick up on the much lower scent levels that come from teeth and bones found in ancient graves… and some are even explicitly trained to detect cremated remains where no bones or teeth remain.This switch from bulldozers to the canine duo is a change welcomed by the area’s former residential school students who feel that because dogs have always been part of the Indigenous culture, they offer a natural, more appropriate approach to finding the missing children.According to Archaeology Professor Adrian Burke, dogs make a great option because they are non-invasive. Although it’s not an exact science – they can’t pinpoint an individual grave - they can hone in on a location and this saves time and the need for random digging. Once dogs flag a site, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is used to confirm what lies beneath.By adding Recce and Taz to the search teams, it’s estimated the time needed to cover a couple of acres can be reduced from a few weeks to just a couple of days.While the process is still slow and time-consuming, Indigenous residents confirm it’s about the children’s families understanding what happened to their little ones, being able to bring them home for appropriate burial, and ultimately experiencing a sense of closure and justice.

What to Do If Your Dog Ingested Something They Shouldn't?

It’s no secret dogs are nosy – especially when they suspect food is involved. They’ll have no problem jumping on the counter, digging through trash, or “sneakily” stealing stuff off your coffee table if given a chance. Not only that this type of behavior can be really irritating for the owner, but it is also downright dangerous. Dogs can easily swallow something that could cause serious health issues – a tiny object that can cause choking, a hazardous chemical, or some human food that is poisonous to them. In either of these cases, the owner should be prepared and alert as acting quickly is crucial when your pet eats something that they shouldn’t have. But what exactly do you need to do if this happens? What is the course of action to help a dog who ingested something they simply should not? Let’s go over it.What to Do If Your Dog Ingested Something They Shouldn't: Step By Step ExplainedIf your dog has ingested something they shouldn't have, it's important to act quickly. Every second counts in this case so don’t panic even if that’s your first instinct. Going into panic mode never helps and can only make things worse. Instead, try to assess the situation and figure out what has been ingested so you can act accordingly. Here are some general guidelines to follow, but keep in mind that you should always consult with your veterinarian for advice tailored to your specific situation.It is imperative to stay calm. It's understandable to feel scared and panicked, but it's crucial to stay composed. Panicking can make it difficult to think clearly and take appropriate action. Take a deep breath, strengthen your resolve and act.Always try to identify the substance or item ingested, if it’s possible to do so very quickly. This information can be helpful for your veterinarian to provide accurate advice. Do you notice any small objects missing? Any open containers or something similar? Quickly try to find the clues.It goes without saying that it is always crucial to call your veterinarian immediately. Provide them with details about what your dog ingested, the amount, and any symptoms your dog is experiencing. After all, they are professionals who know how to deal with these situations in an efficient manner and will give you the guidelines suited to your situation.Keep in mind not to induce vomiting. Inducing vomiting can be dangerous in some situations and should only be done under the guidance of a veterinarian. Certain substances or items can cause more harm if brought back up. Unless instructed otherwise, don’t do it.Disperse with the panic and fears, and follow the advice of your veterinarian to the letter. Your veterinarian will provide specific instructions based on the substance ingested. Follow their advice carefully, whether it involves inducing vomiting, administering activated charcoal, or other measures.It is important to monitor your dog and their behavior. Keep a close eye on them for any changes in behavior, signs of distress, or dangerous symptoms. Be prepared to provide this information to your veterinarian. Sometimes, nothing will show at first, but could later on. In some cases, your veterinarian may recommend immediate action, such as going to an emergency veterinary clinic. Follow their advice promptly, or if you see that your dog is in danger, do so as fast as possible.

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