Cockatiel

**Cockatiels** (binomial name ***Nymphicus hollandicus***) are small birds originally from Australia and are related to many other cockatoos. They are the second most common bird species kept as a pet. Cockatiels can live from 10 to 25 years, depending on how healthy their lifestyle is, although wild cockatiels usually live shorter.

Cockatiels have tiny feathers on their head called a crest. The crest allows the owner to have an idea of what they are feeling; straight up if scared or excited, flat when they're angry, and slightly curved is normal/happy.

In the wild, cockatiels are prey animals, meaning there are predators that eat them. As a result, cockatiels can scare easily, especially when they meet someone or something they do not know. With enough patience and affection, an owner can tame the cockatiel and help them get over their natural fear. Like many other parrots, cockatiels are very good at climbing, and use their beak to position themselves each time.

Cockatiels come in many different colours, some naturally while others were specifically bred. Gray is considered to be their original colour, and is one of the most popular, along with Lutino (yellow). Males have a brighter crest and face, and sing louder and more frequently than females. A cockatiel has very long tail feathers compared to other birds.

Seeds make up most of their diet, but veterinarians strongly recommend various fruits, vegetables, and beans as well. However, a few of these may be harmful to them, and it is advised to be cautious with what they eat. It can be very hard to get adults to try new foods, so it is best to have them try little by little at a time instead of all at once.

Like other birds, they can be taught to do many tricks; including flips, handshakes, fly-on-command, showing their wings, and more. Patience and repetition is key, as teaching one trick can take many months. They can also be taught to sing, but may become confused and ruin the song if it's too complex.

Cockatiels are social birds, and like to spend time with others. They can become overly attached to their owners over time (especially if raised young), and may start to shriek when they feel lonely. If the owner is unable to spend a lot of time with them, getting them a partner (preferably another cockatiel) can help resolve their clinginess.

Cockatiels are Australian psittacines native to the deserts (Forshaw, 2010).
They are genetically adapted to high temperatures, amid centuries of domestication

## Sorting and word origin

First talked about by J. F. Gmelin in an copy of Systema naturae in 1788 as _Psittacus novaehollandiae_, and later by a Scottish writer and an expert in natural history called Robert Kerr in 1792 as _Psittacus hollandicus_, and finally moved to its own genus(a group of types of animal), _Nymphicus_, by Wagler in 1832. Its genus name reflects the experience of one of the first groups of Europeans to see the birds in their natural home; the travellers thought the birds were so beautiful that they named them after spirits. The exact name _hollandicus_ refers to New Holland, an old name for Australia.

## Where they live

Cockatiels come from Australia, where they are normally seen in dry or a bit dry country but always close to water. Very nomadic(not always having the same home), they will move to where food and water can be found. They are normally seen in pairs or small groups. Sometimes, hundreds will go around a single amount of water. Wild cockatiels normally eat seeds, They eat _Acacia_, wheat, sunflower and _Sorghum_ a lot more. To many farmers' shock, they eat plants that are for food a lot. Cockatiels may be seen in and near the west of New South Wales and Queensland, Alice Springs, near The Kimberley  and the top-left bit of Western Australia. They are not in the lands that can grow plants the most, that are in the bottom-left and bottom-right bits of the country, the biggest Western Australian deserts, and Cape York Peninsula.