What is a Cockatiel?

The Cockatiel looks something like a cross between a parakeet and a Cockatoo, and like its bigger cousin the Cockatoo, it sports a jaunty crest on the top of its head. The Cockatiel originally came from the continent of Australia, but soon found themselves carried around the world by seafarers that found the Cockatiels to be intelligent and amusing companions on long voyages.

The Cockatiel grows to no more than 12 inches in length from the tip of its crest to the end of its longest tail feathers. Its body and wings are colored mostly gray, with large white patches on the wings. The color of its face ranges from a very light lemony-yellow to a more buttery sun-yellow; with an orange to red spot on each cheek. Albino Cockatiels are becoming increasingly popular and can be found right alongside their more colorful brethren in most pet shops.

Cockatiels also have feet that are typical of a parrot’s feet; where there are two toes that face forward while the other two face backwards. This configuration makes it easy for the Cockatiel to climb, perch and grasp objects. A Cockatiel will very often take hold of an object in these nimble toes and bring it up to where it can examine it more thoroughly. Cockatiels can also walk along the floor with these special feet; albeit with a rolling gait reminiscent of a land-locked sailor that hasn’t lost his sea legs.

Housing

Cockatiels, like most pet birds, appreciate some elbow room in their enclosures. A good rule of thumb would be to get a cage wide enough for the cockatiel to comfortably spread its wings and tall enough to keep its tail from touching or scarping the bottom or sides. Remember to also take into account where in your home you will want to place the cage. It should be a quiet area with no drafts, no sudden changes in temperature, and where it can easily be accessed for cleaning.