Cockatiel

Cockatiels are originally from Australia, but are kept as household pet in most parts of the world, as they are a highly popular choice for an exotic pet bird as they are great companions, they love to entertain and give their owner love and affection. They are gentle birds and are not as active or destructive as other larger species of parrot family. They are easy to take care of and are also known for their intelligence.

The most prominent feature of a Cockatiel is it's "crest", the group of feathers on top of its head, which gives it a kingly look. Another feature that most cockatiels possess is the orange patches on their cheek.

The life expectancy of these birds is about 15 to 20 years, with some recording life spans of 30 years!!, this has added to their appeal and popularity as pets even further. As said they are gentle birds and they love being talked to by their owner and unlike some other birds, cockatiels actually like to be touched by their owners. They may even persuade you to stroke them by bending their heads down and sometimes they even preen people on their eyebrows and hair!

As cockatiels are playful birds, sufficient cage size is a must to flex its wings and play around, a minimum cage size of 30" H x 25" L x 25" W is recommended.

Cockatiels need a variety of foods in their diet like fresh fruit and vegetables, cooked meats and even table scraps to a degree. Sprouted seeds are also an excellent way to add variety to your bird's diet.