Home » Plants & Animals » Small Hookbills » The Pet Cockatiel, an introduction to the series

The Pet Cockatiel, an introduction to the series

© Mary Wilson

For so many people, the cockatiel fits the pet bird "bill." Whether someone is moving up from a parakeet or looking for a great first bird, the cockatiel works. This small hookbill comes from Australia, and hobbyists have bred a rainbow of colors and patterns. The antics of a cockatiel will entertain, exasperate, and surprise you, usually all at the same time.

I classify a cockatiel as a small hookbill for a few reasons. The first, and most important, is that the cockatiel is of a size that will not scare someone new to birds. Unlike the fearsome beak of a macaw, the cockatiel doesn't look as if he could take your finger off with one bite. Also, it doesn't take much strength to have a cockatiel perch on your finger or arm. The second is that a cockatiel is smaller than some Asiatic parakeets, such as the ringneck. To me, the line between small and medium bird becomes blurred with something the size of a ringneck or Amazon. (Yes, there are a variety of sizes within those species). A quaker, Princess of Wales, and canary winged parakeet, to me, are also all small hookbills. Though Sally, my quaker, believes she's a much bigger bird.

There are a few things to keep in mind when thinking about a pet cockatiel, and I'll break them down over the course of the next few articles. We'll start with the cage, then move into diet, behavior, and health.

I hope if you're a current cockatiel owner you'll find something of value in the coming series. If you're thinking about obtaining a pet cockatiel, then I hope these articles will shape your decision.

The copyright of the article The Pet Cockatiel, an introduction to the series in Small Hookbills is owned by Mary Wilson. Permission to republish The Pet Cockatiel, an introduction to the series in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.