Nymphicus hollandicus
Cockatiel
Cockatiels combine an affectionate nature with a manageable size, and are among the best first parrots for a committed household.
CacatuidaeLifespan 15–25 yearsCare complexity 3/5Suitable for beginners
At a glance
- Scientific name
- Nymphicus hollandicus
- Family
- Cacatuidae
- Origin
- Australian scrubland and wetlands
- Lifespan
- 15–25 years
- Adult size
- 30–33 cm including tail
- Weight
- 80–120 g
- Temperament
- Gentle, affectionate and easily startled
- Activity level
- Moderate to high
- Social needs
- High; needs a companion bird or several hours of human interaction daily
- Intelligence
- Good whistling mimicry and strong trick-training potential
- Noise
- Moderate — whistles and evening calls
Housing and environment
- Housing
- Minimum 60 x 50 x 75 cm for one bird, with horizontal bars and varied perches
- Space requirement
- A quiet corner away from the kitchen, with a safe flight area
- Temperature
- 18–26°C
- Humidity
- 40–60%
- Exercise
- Two or more hours of supervised flight daily
- Grooming
- Self-preening; provide misting baths. Produces fine feather dust
Diet and feeding
Pelleted base with fresh greens and measured seed portions
Behaviour and compatibility
Crest signalling, whistling, foraging and night frights in the dark
- With children
- Good with calm supervision; startles easily
- With other animals
- Keep separate from cats and dogs
- Training difficulty
- Low
Health
- Chronic egg laying
- Respiratory disease from dust or fumes
- Fatty liver disease
- Night frights causing injury
- Psittacine beak and feather disease
Annual avian veterinary checks and weight monitoring with a gram scale
Special care requirements
Use a night light to reduce panicked flapping after dark, and avoid all airborne toxins