Bird of the Month: Cockatiel

Posted on 21 November, 2024 by Anna

Welcome to Bird of the Month, a partnership between Connecting Country and BirdLife Castlemaine District. Each month we’re taking a close look at one local bird species. We’re excited to join forces to deliver you a different bird each month, seasonally adjusted, and welcome suggestions from the community. This article was written by Damian Kelly from BirdLife Castlemaine District, accompanied by photos from Ash Vigus.

Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus)

A popular bird, often kept as a pet that breeds easily in captivity. It can be found all over the world in aviaries. Due to its popularity, sightings of this bird out of its usual range need to be checked carefully as many are likely escapees. Having said that, they do sometimes pop up in unusual places. Recently Ash Vigus has recorded them on the Moolort Plains in some numbers (see photos). Unusual for this region but perhaps a sign of changing times.

In spite of its size the Cockatiel is closely related to the much larger cockatoos. Researching these articles sometimes leads us down strange paths: what are the similarities with cockatoos? Well, like cockatoos, Cockatiels have gall bladders. Most parrots along with birds as diverse as Humming Birds and Peregrine Falcons do not. How about that for a weird fact? In case you wanted to know, the gall bladder is a little sac that collects bile from the liver and delivers it as needed into the small intestine to aid in the breakdown of fat. Anyway, enough of digressions!

Cockatiels are very adaptable birds and can be found over wide areas of the dry inland of Australia. It is a nomadic species that moves around depending on climatic conditions and food availability. It favours tree-lined water courses and the edge of timbered areas and favours open, lightly wooded areas. Food sources include the seeds of grasses and trees along with fruit and berries. It has also adapted to new food sources such sorghum, soybeans and other grain crops. The Cockatiel flock on the Moorlort Plains were feeding in a wheat crop. At times they can be found in urban parks and gardens in the drier zones.

They are a monogamous bird, probably pairing for life. Generally they move about in groups of varying sizes and often roost communally. Breeding can be seasonal favouring spring, but in suitable conditions they have been known to breed at any suitable time when food and water are available. Nests are generally in hollows with clutch sizes normally 4-5 eggs. Incubation and feeding of young involves both parents.