Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus)

BirdParrotAustralia

Overview

The cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) is a slim, long-tailed Australian parrot and — despite its small size and slender build — a genuine cockatoo. It is the smallest member of the cockatoo family and the only species in its genus.

Its most distinctive feature is a tall, mobile crest that the bird raises and lowers, which is characteristic of cockatoos. Wild cockatiels are grey with a white wing panel, an orange cheek patch and, in males, a yellow face; females are duller with barred underparts on the tail.

Like the budgerigar, the cockatiel is both a widespread wild Australian bird and a very common companion parrot. This profile describes the wild species and is not a pet-care guide — it gives no husbandry, feeding or veterinary advice.

Habitat & Range

Cockatiels range across the interior of Australia, in open woodland, scrub, savanna, grassland and farmland, generally near water. They avoid dense forest and the wettest coastal areas, and are most abundant in the dry inland where scattered trees provide nest hollows and open ground provides seed.

Diet

Cockatiels feed mainly on seed taken from the ground — grasses, cereal crops and the seeds of shrubs and trees — along with some fruit and plant material. They typically feed in flocks and must drink regularly, so waterholes and stock troughs are important gathering points.

Behavior

Cockatiels are gregarious and, like budgerigars, largely nomadic, moving in response to rainfall and food availability. They fly fast and directly, often in tight flocks. The crest is genuinely informative: raised sharply when the bird is alarmed or alert, held high when curious, and flattened when threatened or agitated. Nesting is in tree hollows, usually near water, and both parents incubate — males typically by day and females by night.

Human Interaction & Conservation

The cockatiel is one of the most widely kept parrots in the world, second only to the budgerigar among companion parrots. In the wild it remains common and widespread in Australia, where it is protected and export prohibited. This profile covers the wild bird only and offers no guidance on keeping, feeding, breeding, taming or the health of pet cockatiels — those belong with an avian veterinarian and specialist sources. Verify current status at the IUCN Red List.