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THE cockatiel or cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) is one of the most popular pet birds in Brazil. This bird belongs to the order psittaciformes, same order as parrots, cockatoos, parakeets etc. This popularity is mainly due to the personality hers allied to yours beauty. Are very sociable birds between your species and even others. When raised from a young age by humans they are very tame making an excellent companion animal. They are very active birds, which whistle, scream and can even imitate various sounds that they frequently hear, such as the house bell or even some names.
Hope of life: 15-20 years.
Source
- Oceania
- Australia
Physical appearance
the cockatiels usually measure between 30 and 32 centimeters. They are long birds, of long tail and with a Christian that characterizes them so much. Its original color is gray, which is the predominant color in the wild. In captivity, in recent years, different mutations have appeared, these being some of the most common:
- Grey or normal (wild): Same color as found and half wild, being the original variety. The body is gray, with the edges of the wings white. In males, the head is yellow with red-orange rounded spots. In females, the head is predominantly gray with some yellow feathers and the rounded spots on the face are a softer shade of orange than males. The tail of males is completely gray while females have yellow stripes interspersed with black or gray. Both sexes have dark eyes, beaks and feet.
- Lutino: This bird is characterized by its absence of melanin, which makes it have pink beak, feet and eyes. Its color is generally white and may also be yellow. There are many combinations of this mutation, such as Lutino-Arlquim, Lutino-Pearl, etc.
- Cinnamon: The feathers on the body of this bird have a cinnamon tone, hence the name of this mutation. The beak, legs and eyes are lighter than the wild color. Males are slightly darker than females.
- Pearl: This mutation affects each feather individually, that is, there is a melanin gap in each feather, giving the characteristic "spotted" appearance of this mutation. The head is usually yellow with gray spots and the crest is also predominantly yellow. The feathers on the wings are gray with some yellow stripes and the tail is yellow. Adult males can completely lose this pearl look, while females always keep the pearl.
Behavior
Cockatiels, like most parrots, live in flocks with a large number of birds. They are very sociable, enjoying interacting with the other members of the gang.
THE most of your time is spent searching for food (behavior called foraging), about 70% of your active day! The remaining time spends the interact socially, playing and taking care of your feathers (the call preening) or of his companions (alloprehension). A cockatiel's day is quite routine, starting at sunrise as they flock to look for food, returning a few hours later to their perches and nests where they care for their feathers and interact with their companions and at the end of the day they come out again. flock to look for food. They return at sunset to the trees where they can sleep safer away from predators.
the cockatiels live in dry areas and feed almost exclusively on seeds found in the soil., unlike other parrots.
It is very important to know the normal behavior of these birds in their natural habitat, this way you can try to bring the conditions in captivity closer to what would be ideal and thus promote improvements in your animal's well-being.
care
Conditions in captivity should resemble, as far as possible, those that the bird would have in the wild.Although cockatiels, especially the quiet ones, love to be on the loose so they can follow humans everywhere, it's important to have a cage, for when you're not around to watch. The cage or the aviary are the safest options for protect cockatiels from harm, like other animals, flights against the window, access to electrical wires and all other dangers in our home. The cage should be at a minimum size enough for it to spread its wings and not touch the ground with its tail, but the bigger the better!
THE food of cockatiel is very important not only to prevent disease from arising but also to contribute to the well-being her. can you give her a proper seed mix or, preferably, a own ration for this species, preventing it from selecting the seeds it likes best, which can cause some nutritional imbalances. Must have fresh water always available that should change daily!
THE social interaction, as we have already told you, is a very important component in the behavior of these birds. Thus, it is important that the cockatiel have at least one fellow of the same species. If you have a cockatiel alone, you should interact with her daily to meet your social needs.
Health
Cockatiels are birds that, if they have the proper hygiene conditions and all aspects to promote their well-being, can be kept in captivity without problems.
Despite this, like all animals, they are subject to the appearance of various problems or diseases. All kinds of problems can arise, from parasitic, infectious and even behavioral problems.
We advise that your cockatiel visit a veterinarian regularly, preferably specialized in exotic animals, this will ensure that everything is fine with her, will analyze her stool to verify that she has no parasites and will analyze her general condition. Like the dog and cat they need the best possible care and if they are in our home it is our responsibility to take care of them and ensure they have the best life possible. Always keep a veterinarian's number close by in case something happens to her. These animals, like other birds, are great at hiding that something is going wrong, so be very aware of any behavioral changes in her, the appearance of the droppings and the amount of water and food ingested.
Curiosities
At lutin or albino cockatiels often present a misses feathers under the topknot of genetic origin.
Usually the males whistle better than females and some cockatiels are able to say a few words. They are very communicative and funny birds, but sometimes quite shy and can be more chatty when they're alone. Try to stay hidden to hear her while she thinks you're not around, that's often how we hear her whistles or funniest words coming from her!