Tiel, Quarrion, Weiro, Cockatoo parrot, Crested parrot, Weero, Weiro bird
The cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) is a member of its own branch of the cockatoo family endemic to Australia. They are prized as household pets and companion parrots throughout the world and are relatively easy to breed. As a caged bird, cockatiels are second in popularity only to the budgerigar. In the United States cockatiels are often referred to simply as "tiels", and in Australia, their native country, as “quarrions” or “weiros”. These birds are the smallest members of the cockatoo family (Cacatuidae).
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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HerbivoreA herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example, foliage, for the main component of its die...
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GranivoreSeed predation, often referred to as granivory, is a type of plant-animal interaction in which granivores (seed predators) feed on the seeds of pla...
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ArborealArboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some anima...
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AltricialAltricial animals are those species whose newly hatched or born young are relatively immobile. They lack hair or down, are not able to obtain food ...
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ZoochoryZoochory animals are those that can disperse plant seeds in several ways. Seeds can be transported on the outside of vertebrate animals (mostly mam...
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NomadicNomadic animals regularly move to and from the same areas within a well-defined range. Most animals travel in groups in search of better territorie...
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ScansorialScansorial animals are those that are adapted to or specialized for climbing. Many animals climb not only in tress but also in other habitats, such...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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MonogamyMonogamy is a form of relationship in which both the male and the female has only one partner. This pair may cohabitate in an area or territory for...
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FlockingFlocking birds are those that tend to gather to forage or travel collectively. Avian flocks are typically associated with migration. Flocking also ...
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Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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starts withCh
ChatterboxesAlthough in captivity many color varieties are bred, wild cockatiels have a distinctive appearance, their plumage is largely gray, with a yellow face, orange patches on the cheeks, a long, wispy, gray, and yellow crest, and prominent white patches on gray wings. Females and juveniles have duller plumage than adult males. The male’s tail is dark gray, but females and juveniles have yellowish outermost tail feathers with gray barring.
Cockatiels are endemic to mainland of Australia and are widely distributed throughout the country, with more in the southwest. There are not many in Tasmania. These birds occur in a range of open habitats, generally preferring those that are sparsely wooded and near fresh water. This small cockatoo lives in open woodland, farmland, savanna, acacia scrub, orchards, and in urban gardens and parks.
Cockatiels can occur in pairs or in small groups, but they usually congregate in flocks of as many as several hundred birds, especially where food is abundant. An individual within these large groups maintains its own space, perched birds not being in contact with each other. They usually perch on the top of dead trees or on power lines, group members adopting the same position as the others, facing the same direction and into the wind. These birds are diurnal. At night they sleep in communal roosts in trees, hidden in dense foliage. Before sunrise, they leave the roost. These birds are swift, powerful fliers, and flocks will often make long flights to go between foraging grounds, water sources, and roosting sites. They are usually silent when feeding on the ground, but noisy in flight. When it is not the breeding season, cockatiels are nomadic and will wander, depending on the seeding of grasses as well as cultivated plants.
Cockatiels are herbivores (granivores), eating mainly acacia seeds, and also those of both native and cultivated plants, fruits, grains, and berries. They need to drink regularly, and so they are often seen near water.
Cockatiels are monogamous breeders, with pairs forming strong bonds and possibly mating for life. Breeding is from August to December, but occasionally as soon as April, depending on weather conditions, particularly rainfall. The bird’s nest is a tree hollow, simply lined with wood dust. They can produce several broods each season. Females usually lay between 4 and 7 white eggs. Incubation is for about three weeks by both parents, the female at night, and the male during the day. When they hatch, chicks are covered with thick yellow down. At around 4-5 weeks old they leave the nest. Young grow quickly and very soon can join nomadic flocks. At about the age of six months, males develop yellow markings on their faces, but this species is not sexually mature until the age of 13 months for males and 18 months for females.
The cockatiel is widespread and common and is not currently regarded as being at risk of extinction. Large flocks are, however, regarded by farmers as pests and are sometimes killed under permit.
According to IUCN, the cockatiel is common and abundant throughout its large range but no overall population estimate is available. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List, and its numbers today remain stable.
Although preferring sun-dried seeds, cockatiels can act as seed-dispersers in their habitats when they eat fresh seeds. Being very messy eaters, they scatter seeds and shells up to four or five feet when they eat. They also disperse seeds of the fruit they consume.
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...