General Description
The Cockatiel is an unusual member of the cockatoo family. It is small in size (30 to 33 cm), and has a slender body and long pointed tail, which is more characteristic of a parrot. Its plumage is mostly grey, paler below, with a white wing patch, orange cheeks and a distinctive pointed crest. The male can be identified by its bright yellow forehead, face and crest. Young Cockatiels resemble the adult female, although the young males normally have a brighter yellow face.
Although mostly silent, the Cockatiel gives a long and distinctive "queel-queel" in flight.

Location and Habitat
The Cockatiel is widespread throughout mainland Australia, but is uncommon in Tasmania, with only a few sightings being reported to date. It is seen in pairs or small flocks, in most types of open country, usually near water. It is common throughout its range, especially in the north and the more arid inland areas. Throughout its range, the Cockatiel is strongly nomadic, moving around in response to the availability of food and water.
The Cockatiel is not found in any other country, but is a popular cage bird, second only to the Budgerigar, Melopsittacus undulatus . It does not have the screeching voice of many other parrots and may learn to 'speak'.

Food and feeding.
Cockatiels feed on a variety of grass seeds, nuts, berries and grain. They may feed either on the ground or in trees, and always in small to large numbers. Cockatiels roost in trees near water and travel from these areas in large flocks to feeding grounds.

Breeding
Cockatiels may breed at any time, in response to suitable periods of rain, especially in the more arid regions. In the south of their range, breeding is normally from July to December. Both sexes share the incubation of the two to nine eggs (normally five), which are laid in a hollow, high up in trees. Suitable trees are either in or close to water. The Cockatiel chicks hatch after 18 - 20 days and leave the nest after a further 30 days. Cockatiels enter the nest hollow tail first.

Cockatiel lifespan
The average lifespan of a cockatiel is 12 to 17 years. It is not unusual for a cockatiel to live to 20 years!

Is my cockatiel male or female

With young cockatiels the male and female look the same so it is difficult to decipher their sex until they have been through their first molt at around six to nine months of age. Only then will the adult coloring show.

Normal gray cockatiels are easily sexed once the adult plumage is through. You will notice that the coloring is more defined with the male having a bright yellow face, whereas the female has a gray face with traces of pale yellow. The male's body is a dark gray but the female's appears duller with almost a brown tint to the gray. Also, until their first molt both sexes have barring patterns on the underside of their tail feathers. After the molt the male's tail feathers will be a solid gray color with no barring, but the female's will remain patterned.

The above is easily applied for normal gray cockatiels but other color varieties such as albinos, cinnamons, lutinos, pearls and pieds are more difficult to sex.

In the meantime, use the general guide below to assist with the sexing of other varieties:

- Males have a great vocal ability and whistle a lot
- Females generally are fairly quiet
- Males whistle and call, whereas females tend to screech
- Females are often more likely to hiss and bite
- Where applicable, males have slightly darker or brighter colorings
on the face and orange cheek patches
- Any hint of barring, markings or spots on the underside of the tail
feathers or wings when they are spread indicates a female
(you may need to hold your cockatiel up to a bright light in order
to see any markings)
- Males tend to strut around - they lift their wings slightly,
stick their chest out and parade and strut, normally calling at
the same time
- Place a mirror in front of your cockatiel. How does it react?
Normally a male will be fascinated and the mirror should hold his
attention for quite some time while he performs in front of it.
A female tends to lose interest fairly quickly.

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