Hello! We are Grey Cockatiels. We are beautiful looking, orange cheeked birds which give us the name Cheddar cheeks. Look at some interesting things about us:
- We have several names like Miniature Cockatoo, Weero, and Quarron.
- We are second-most popular parrot, only after budgerigars.
- We are first described by Scottish writer and Naturalist Robert Kerr in 1793.
- We are very famous household pets and we are well-known for our beautiful crest and orange cheeks.
- We are very vocal birds and we can be taught to sing specific sounds and also can be taught to speak words and sentences. We are better whistlers than talkers.
- We are well known for color mutations. We currently are available in 22 color mutations including pied, lutino, cinnamon, etc.
- We are quite sleepy birds. We sleep for about 14 hours a day.
- Do you know? Our distinct crest is not only for looks but actually shows our emotions.
- The crest is vertical when we are excited or during mating. The crest is flat when we are in a relaxed state.
SOME QUICK FACTS ABOUT US:
Our Scientific Name: Nymphicus hollandicus.
Identification: Grey colored birds with orange cheeks.
Our Habitat: arid and semi-arid places.
Our Range:
Food Habits: Herbivorous; feed on seeds, fruits, and vegetables.
Breeding Period: Any time of the year depending on food availability.
Number of eggs laid: 4-7 eggs.
Incubation period: 17-23 days.
Lifespan: 10-14 years in the wild; about 25 years in captivity.
IUCN red list status: Least Concern.
CITES: Appendix II.
Indian Wildlife Protection Act: Schedule IV.
SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Cacatuidae
Genus: Nymphicus
Species: N. hollandicus
COMPLETE DETAILS ABOUT US FOR ANIMAL ENTHUSIASTS:
We are the Grey Cockatiels, simply referred to as cockatiels.
Grey Cockatiels are scientifically called as Nymphicus hollandicus
HOW WE LOOK:
We are part of cockatoo family with a body length of 30cm-33cm and weigh 85gms-142gms. We have really long tail feathers. The males of our species are grey in color with few white outer feathers; they have yellow to white face with a grey beak.
The females of our species are also grey in color including the face. Both the sexes have orange color on their ears which are referred to as “cheddar cheeks”. The young chicks look similar to a female.
WE ARE FOUND IN:
We can be largely seen in arid and semi-arid places. Our range is only in Australia but we are introduced in various parts of the world. We are nomadic in our nativity and we move where there is an availability of food and water.
WHAT WE EAT:
We are herbivores and eat seeds, fruits, and vegetables in the wild. In captivity, we are fed various types of birdseed and other food.
OUR REPRODUCTION:
We are monogamous birds and we pair with our opposite genders very early in life. Breeding season depends on climatic and food conditions. Both males and females perform various rituals before mating. The female lays 4-7 eggs at a time takes care of the eggs alone. The incubation period is 17-23 days.
The young chicks that hatch live in the nest for 5 weeks. The young chicks attain sexual maturity after 13 months if it is a male and 18 months if it is a female. Lifespan in the wild is 10-14 years and in captivity, it is up to 25 years.
MORE ABOUT US:
We are intelligent, playful and active birds, making us second most popular parrot after budgerigars.
We are vocal birds and can mimic human voices, sing melodies and also speak many words and phrases.
We have a distinctive crest through which we express our various emotions like if the crest is vertical, we are excited, if the crest in gentle we are in the relaxed state, if crest in flat we are angry, etc.
We have 22 different mutations with different colors.
OUR CONSERVATION:
We are pets of many humans all around the world. We are abundantly available and are classified as “least concern” in the red list of IUCN. We are also listed in CITES Appendix II and also protected in India under Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 Schedule IV.
