Cockatiel 101: Your Ultimate Guide

The cockatiel bird has easily become one of the most loved pets around the world! Loyal, playful, and affectionate, they are the type of bird that can suit anyone who’d love a break from dogs and cats. So, if you’re new to bird ownership then you’re just in luck! In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the cute cockatiel.

Also known as the “Tiel bird”, the cockatiel is truly a pretty little package. At first glance, you’re probably going to notice that they have a very distinctive look. These lovely little birds tend to have an upward crest similar to the cockatoo.

Now, although, the crest of the Tiel is quite a common feature, another eye-catching trait is the orange markings on their cheeks!

Apart from their appearance, they are often 11 to 14 inches in length and can weigh anywhere from 80 to 90 grams. These little birds often have a curved hookbill and zygodactyl feet.

Have you ever wondered where your pretty little cockatiel came from? 

Cockatiels are a bird native to Australia, in the wild they are found predominately in wetlands and scrublands! In other words, they really love being around warm, humid conditions, where there’s a lot of water!

They are also quite social little birds. In the wild wetlands of Australia, cockatiels are often seen with a group of buddies! This means that they prefer the company of either a single cockatiel or a bunch!

There’s a big misconception that cockatiels are simply a smaller version of cockatoos! With that being said, many people may often get a cockatiel in the hopes that it will be a lot similar to a cockatoo. However, this is not true!

Firstly, the cockatoos is the taxonomic name actually given to a bunch of birds who are sort of slightly genetically related. The scientific name for the family Cockatoo is Cacatuidae, and under the family cockatoo, you will see various other bird species—21 to be exact! Some of the bird species that fall under the cockatoo family include the:

One of the coolest things about owning pet cockatiels is that they can come in an array of colors and patterns. They often have various mutations in their genes that allow them to come in colors and patterns like:

Lutino birds will have bright yellow plumage and vibrant orange cheeks. Depending on their parent breeding pair, a lutino cockatiel can come in a pearl or pied combination. It’s important to note that a true lutino cockatiel will have red eyes and may likely develop inherited alopecia behind their crest.

The term pied is often used to describe a pattern as opposed to a color. Pied cockatiels are often quite hard to distinguish from lutinos. These birds tend to have distinctive grey or dark yellow “blobs” as markings. And, unlike lutinos, a pied cockatiel will not have red eyes.

Similar to pied, the term pearl denotes to a type of pattern. This mutation often results in these birds developing a lace of pattern (white or yellow) around the back, tail, and wing feathers.

The cinnamon mutation seen in cockatiels is actually pretty to understand. To put simply, these tiels tend to inherit a slightly brown, cinnamon color. For example, a cinnamon cockatiel will have slightly faded brownish/orange cheeks as opposed to bright orange!

Cockatiels are affectionate birds! If cared for properly, both male and female tiels will bond closely to their humans. These birds are not only friendly, but they can be quite adaptable to a new environment.

If you choose to get a cockatiel, then know that you will need to provide adequate time, patience, love, and training to make sure they are kept happy. Cockatiels who are free-flight ( free to roam and fly around the home) may be a lot messier to clean up after.

Before you decide that a cockatiel is a bird for you, hold on! These animals can live really long lives. A wild cockatiel may live anywhere from 10 to 14 years, but of course, that’s taking into account various factors like predators, starvation, and disease. However, a pet cockatiel in captivity can live much longer… over 20 years to be exact!

Fun fact! According to the Guinness World Book of Records, the oldest cockatiel bird is currently 32 years old!

Now, just because your little tiel lives at home, does not mean they’re free from health problems! Yes, just like dogs and cats, cockatiels can suffer from a range of health problems. Some of the more common medical issues seen in tiels include:

Your bird will be most happy in an enriched environment. These little birds require a lot of mental stimulation in order to prevent behavior problems. One of the biggest problem pet cockatiels face is boredom and loneliness. Combine the two, and you can get a bird who may be depressed, nippy, or simply aggressive.  Pet owners who are interested in getting a cockatiel need to provide:

If there’s one thing cockatiels love, then it’s colorful and exciting toys. Not only will these toys provide tons of excitement, but it will also allow your bird to do what’s natural to them,

Before getting a new cage for your tiel, you have to consider two factors. How many birds do you have and the length of the birds.

While cockatiels are considered small to medium in size, it is highly recommended that owners always go for a large cage which allows the cockatiel to fly.

As a rough guide, cages can be 20 inches deep, 20 inches wide, and 24 inches in height.

For most new owners of small birds, it’s only natural to reach for that packet of seed. But, stay away from this! Seed diets can cause a lot of long-term health problems!

A well-balanced diet for these small birds should include:

If you’re ready to get a cockatiel then you should start by looking at a bird breeder or rescue. Often, breeders will offer you three types of cockatiels:

A hand-reared cockatiel is one that has been taken from its mother and has been hand raised by a human. These cockatiels tend to associate themselves as a “human.” As such, they are really friendly birds! However, be warned, that they can imprint on people.

A parent fed, but human interaction is simply a cockatiel that knows it’s a bird but still loves to be with humans. It is always recommended to get birds like these, as it will prevent behavioral problems in the future.

Finally, an aviary bird is one that has been raised by its parents and has had little to no contact with humans. An aviary bird will not be friendly, and will not adapt to living in a cage.

Depending on what type of cockatiel you choose, the average price of one will vary! Often hand-reared and parent fed, human interacted birds can cost upwards to over $120. Cockatiels with rare colors and coat patterns can cost even more!

Watch out dogs and cats! You’ve got competition…

Cockatiels are easily considered one of the more affectionate birds out there, so it’s no wonder why people are falling in love with them. But, before you decide to get yourself a tiel, make sure you do all the research you can, as these guys are a 20-year commitment.