{"id":4051,"date":"2014-09-29T03:46:40","date_gmt":"2014-09-29T03:46:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lafeber.com\/staging\/vet\/?p=4051"},"modified":"2020-03-03T21:46:41","modified_gmt":"2020-03-04T03:46:41","slug":"basic-information-sheet-for-the-cockatiel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/basic-information-sheet-for-the-cockatiel\/","title":{"rendered":"Basic Information Sheet: Cockatiel"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cockatiel – Nymphicus hollandicus <\/em><\/h1>\n

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Natural history<\/h2>\n

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Cockatiels originate from the non-coastal regions of Australia. The free-ranging population is very large, and the IUCN lists this species\u2019 conservation status of \u201cleast concern\u201d. Cockatiels probably represent the smallest of the cockatoos, although there is some controversy surrounding this classification. Cockatiels are common as aviary birds and they make excellent pets.<\/p>\n

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Taxonomy<\/h2>\n

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\nClass<\/strong>: Aves<\/em><\/p>\n

Order<\/strong>: Psittaciformes<\/em><\/p>\n

Family<\/strong>: Psittacidae<\/em><\/p>\n

Nymphicus hollandicus<\/em><\/p>\n

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Physical description<\/h2>\n

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The cockatiel is a small parrot (approximately 32 cm or 12.5 in) with an erectile crest and long retrices or tail feathers.<\/p>\n

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Coloration<\/h2>\n

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The standard or wild type cockatiel is predominately grey with yellow, orange, and white accents. Many color mutations<\/a> exist including lutino, cinnamon, fallow, whiteface, pied, silver, olive, yellow cheek, and pearl.<\/p>\n

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Sexual dimorphism<\/h2>\n

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Male cockatiels have yellow foreheads, throats, crests and cheek patches with orange ear coverts. Females have much less yellow and a barred pattern underneath the wings. Males have solid black plumage under their wings.
\nSexual dimorphism is most obvious in the standard or wild type cockatiel. Until maturity at 6 months of age, coloration will resemble that of a female including yellow or white bars on the ventral surface of the wings.<\/p>\n

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Diet<\/h2>\n

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