Fun and Interesting Cockatiel Facts

Origin

The outback regions of inland Australia were originally home to the colorful cockatiels that favored the bush lands, scrublands and wetlands of this outback country. Their gorgeous feathers are a reminder of the beauty of the wild Australian countryside.

Species

Generally considered part of the parrot family, recent molecular studies have settled the ambiguity about their specific species. They are now classified as part of the Cockatoo family and are the smallest of the Cacatuidae. However, most people still refer to them as 'parrots' although not totally accurate. They are the only Cockatoo species to be able to possibly reproduce at the end of their first year of life.

Lifespan

'Tiels generally live between 15-20 years, although there have been birds who have lived as long as 30 years. One documented case lived to be 36 years of age! Exercise and diet are large factors in determining the lifespan of cockatiels just as they are in humans.

Temperament

These pleasant birds are know for their sweet, affectionate demeanor. They are also very gregarious and fascinating as they display their ability to socialize and become part of the family. In fact, they are one of the easiest birds to tame and train. However, they can also be quite unruly, obstinate, obnoxious and territorial if untrained and left alone for long periods of time.

Never underestimate the necessity to spend time with your 'Tiel or to train him appropriately. They need to be talked to, handled, and played with everyday in order to be happy and healthy.

Colors

Cockatiels can be found in a large variety of colors which include Lutino (yellow), Grey, Pearl, Cinnamon, Whitefact, Albino (white), and Fallow. There are always further attempts to create a new color in cockatiels which means that a 'Tiel with a unique color emerges quite often. This piques the interest of many bird lovers.

Really Fun Cockatiel Facts

'Tiels can exhibit almost human socialization traits if trained correctly. Cockatiels can mimic noises such as doorbells or telephone rings. They can also whistle, talk or sing, but much prefer sounding out noises that they hear within their environment. 'Tiels can also be trained to perform fascinating tricks to the delight of their owners.

They can become quite attached to one particular person if that person is the only one to handle and feed him. To some, this is a great comfort, to others it is a nuisance because 'Tiels may display territorial aggression when others enter the room. It's up to you as to what type of attachments you prefer for your companion...you can easily train your bird to be friendly to everyone or to just be your personal buddy!