Cockatiel - What is It?

If you have not heard of cockatiels yet you will probably be asking your self what a cockatiel is. A cockatiel is the tiniest specie of the parrot family. It is scientifically known as the "Nymphicus hollandicusî and is sometimes called the Wiero or the Quarrion. They are the simplest pet to breed and are known to be the household pet all over the universe. For caged birds, they are number 2 in popularity next to the Budgerigar.

Cockatiels are popularly known as the crested parrot or the small cockatoo as they are the smallest in the cockatoo family. They prefer to stay in the bush lands, wet lands, scrublands and all over the regions of inland Australia.

A typical cockatiel is colored gray in the wild. Domesticated cockatiels however are bred to have different shades of peach, orange, gray, white and yellow. Cockatiels with these colors are known as silver, pied, pearl, cinnamon, and lutino. They have the power to manipulate their moods and manner when they are afraid, ill and inquisitive through their crest which is their most distinctive mark.

Household cockatiels or cockatiels that are domesticated can live from 15 to 20 years and sometimes even 30 years. Living in the wild can make their life span shorter because of the dangers they can encounter in the wild such as predation. Even so, they are famous to be high in spirits and can be very social when with other birds. They fly in pairs or in flock typically in Australia ñ their resident.

Cockatiels have a social nature in them which makes them great pets. They are sometimes naughty and are intelligent and curious. A cockatiel that has been domesticated would love being with their owners and love hanging out on their breeder's head or shoulders. They would even join their owners in the bath and when having dinner. Most of the cockatiels that can whistle and speak well are males.

The time you will spend with your bird pet is important when planning to have a cockatiel pet. They tend to be bored when they are lonely and if you know that you won't be able to spend much time with your pet, getting another one for him to have a company will be a good idea. Just remember that having two birds will give you a hard time domesticating them and they will most likely ignore you because of the other bird that they are living with.

If this is the case, make sure that you get your birds one at a time and that the bird is cultivated before bringing him home so he can be sociable to you and other humans. Keep the new bird away from the others until the time that they are used to having him around and that he is receptive to people. Ask for handfed cockatiels for best results.