ANIMAL: Cockatiel Nymphicus hollandicus Type of Animal: Parrot Habitat: Arid/semiarid areas near water-grasslands, savanna, woodland, farmland, acacia scrub, orchards, urban gardens/parks Location(s): Australia Appearance: Smallest of all cockatoos, distinctive erectile crest, grey w/ white flashes on outer edges of wings, male has yellow or white face, female has gray to light gray face, both sexes have round orange area on both ears, orange coloration more noticeable in males, juveniles look like females but w/ pinker beaks, male has dark gray tail, female/juvenile tail yellow mixed w/ gray, many different color mutations in captivity Food/Diet: Seeds, pellets, fruit, vegetables, honey, greens, berries, nuts, vegetation, insects, legumes, grains Status in Wild: Stable Conservation: Breeding in aviculture, zoos, & wildlife centers. Very popular pets. Lifestyle: Flocks of 12-200. Breed in colonies ranging from 4-100 monogamous pairs. Additional Info: Called: Male: Cock Female: Hen Young: Chick Group: Flock Weight: Male: 3.17 oz Female: 3.53 oz Young: 1.58 oz Gestation: 3 weeks Life Span: 10-12 years in wild, 15-25 years in captivity Height: 1-1.16 ft Body Length: 1-1.16 ft Tail Length: 0.5-0.58 ft Main predators are cats, snakes, predatory birds, bats, foxes, dogs, & pigs. They first molt 6 months after hatching. 1st discovered by Europeans in Australia in 1770 but didn’t become popular pets until the 1900s during Australian gold rush. Enter nest hollow tail-first. Tend to be very light sleepers in order to protect themselves from predators. Due to dietary habits, they play role as seed dispersers. Sometimes killed by farmers due to being crop pests. Females usually lay 4-10 eggs per clutch. In native range, sometimes called “quarrions” or “weiros.” Sexually mature at 6-9 months old. Chicks stay w/ parents for 1.5-3.5 months. Tend to nest in large tree hollows, typically near water. Typically forage on ground. Fun Fact(s): Can attain speeds of more than 40 mph in air. Rarely hybridize w/ larger Galahs (Rose-Breasted Cockatoos) creating Galatiels. Known to be very smart birds. Males better at talking/whistling than females-males actually whistle to attract females. Tend to be better at whistling than talking. Make excellent pets-one of most popular pet birds in world.
