A Leader in Breeding Hand Reared Companion Parrots

Specialist Breeders of Eclectus, Conures, Exotics, and Australian Companion Parrots

Nymphicus hollandicus

Other Names:

Quarrion, Cockatoo-Parrot, Crested Parrot, and Werro.

The Pied Cockatiel: An excellent specimen will have symmetrical markings, preferably in a 70% Pied to 30% melanin (in this case gray) ratio. The Pied portion of the plumage can range from yellow to white. Cockatiels can live from 15 to 25 years, with good care. The record holder is in his thirties. Cockatiels are a recommended starter bird for children because they are fun-loving and easy-going. Cockatiels should not be confined to their cages at all times. They love having an audience, and will learn to do almost anything for a laugh: roll over, do backward flips and perform tricks such as ringing a bell.

Description:

Normal:

The normal Cockatiel is grey,their breast and abdomen are a paler grey, some birds are tinged with brown. Their crest, forehead, cheeks and throat are yellow.The male has a large orange-red patch to each ear covert.

The greater wing-coverts and forward secondaries are white; lower back, upper tail-coverts and middle tail-feathers pale grey; outer tail-feathers and tail underside dark grey.

Skin to narrow periophthalmic ring is grey; bill grey, iris dark brown and their feet are grey.

Female :

Their face and crest are noticeably mixed with grey, the patch to each ear-coverts is a dull orange; outer tail-feathers yellow on upperside marked in grey; greyish-white patches to inner webs of flight feathers.

Immatures:

Colour similar to females; mandible is flesh-coloured.

adult plumage is attained at 3 months, young males will have more yellow feathers on their head.

Length:

32 cm (12.5 ins)

Distribution:

Australia except for eastern, northern and southern humid areas near coast.

Habitat:

Virtually all types of open terrain preferring areas near water courses and holes within grain growing areas.

Habits:

Usually in pairs or small flocks, occasionally large flocks of up to several hundred birds can be seen when sufficient food is available or during seasonal migrations.

They mostly land in shallow water to quickly drink not remain at the waterhole for any length of time before continuing on with their nomadic life stile.

Natural Diet:

Cockatiels mainly feed on the ground foraging for grass and weed seeds, seeds from bushes and trees, fruits and berries. They regularly forages in grain and millet fields often causing considerable damage.

Breeding behaviour:

Breeding season mostly between August and December, but virtually possible all year round depends on favourable climatic conditions.Several breedings one after another are possible.

Cockatiels prefer to nest in hollows in branches of tall, dead trees and are territorial during breeding. 2 to 5 eggs are laid measuring 24.5 x 19.0 mm (0.96 x 0.75 ins).While incubation take up to 21 days.Both parents are responsible for brooding and young leave nest at 5 weeks.

Aviculture:

Cockatiels are quiet parakeets with a melodious voice, quickly becomes confiding and are not hard chewers. Inoffensive to other birds in communal aviaries.

Accommodation:

Large cage or outside flight 2.5 x 1 x 2 m ( 9 x 3 x 6 ft) with adjoining shelter. Communal aviary 1.5 sq. metres (16 sq. ft) per pair. Protect the Cockatiel from frost in winter.

Diet:

Seed mix of canary seed and various millets, some oats and weed seeds (also sprouted,) greenfood; various fruit and vegetables (latter often eaten with reluctance) love apple slices.

Breeding in aviculture:

Very readily breeds with no fixed time for breeding in indoor accommodation.

Courtship: characteristic display song, sideways tripping and flight with sudden turns during the display. The male seeks a nest box and enticing the female to the nest with a arithmetic tapping at the entrance to the nest.

Once the hen settles into her role of future mother, eggs are laid every second day, with clutches averaging 4 to 5 eggs, occasionally 8. Incubation takes up to 21 days with a  fledging period of around 33 days depending on the individual chick.

The young are fed for a further three weeks by the parents.

The Click For Live Help button, is just a way of contacting us direct. There's nothing to download, it just opens a little pop up browser window running a Java Script. If we are online, you can contact, me Garry. If we are offline, you can contact us by email. You don't have to give your email address, but it means that we can't reply.

Please Sign Our Guestbook                         Please View Our Guestbook

<Home><Eclectus><Conures><Australian Parrots><Cockatoos><Parrots for Sale><Books><My Articles>

<Aussie Bird Cages><PHA's Online Shop><Products><Free Classified >

Contact: Garry & Lyn Lee

Back Kootingal Road, NEMINGHA, via Tamworth, NSW 2340, Australia.

Phone Australia: 02-67609531    Fax Australia 02-67609831 E-mail: pha@parrot-haven-aviary.com.au

Phone International: +61 2 6760 9531  Fax International: +61 2 6760 9831 

Content copyright © 1999, 2003  Parrot Haven Aviary. All rights reserved.Please send your questions, comments, or bug reports to the Webmaster.

Web site developed   and  maintained  by  Garry Lee.