Though native to Australia, most all of the cockatiels available today in the pet bird market are domestically bred. These charming little parrots have a moveable crest on top of their heads and long pointed tail feathers. Their streamlined bodies are slender and tall.
Males have prominent orange cheek patches and love to whistle.
They easily learn to talk and make wonderful, sweet pets. The females, while not as vocally talented, make equally sweet pets. Hand raised babies are tame and trusting. Cockatiels require spacious cages to accommodate their long tails and tall head feathers. They have a wide wing span and should have enough room on either side of the cage to allow for full wing extension.