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Photo: Ganatron / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

The Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) is a member of the Cacatuidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 94.6 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

  1. Class Aves
  2. Order Psittaciformes
  3. Family Cacatuidae Cockatoos
  4. Genus Nymphicus
  5. Species hollandicus

Where it lives

Australia (except northern, southern, Tasmania)

Quick facts

Weight
94.6 g
Family
Cacatuidae

How to identify

Similar birds

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Cockatiel is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.

Behaviour

A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.

Migration

The Cockatiel is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

The Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) belongs to the Cacatuidae family of the order Psittaciformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU Australia (except n, s, Tasmania).

It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 94.6 g, with a wing length of about 16.7 cm and a tail of around 16.6 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 6.5 million km².

Songs & calls

Cockatiel — Call, flight call

Recorded by Thierry THOMAS Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Cockatiel?

The Cockatiel is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 94.6 g.

Where does the Cockatiel live?

The Cockatiel is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU Australia (except n, s, Tasmania), where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.

What family does the Cockatiel belong to?

The Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) belongs to the Cacatuidae family, in the order Psittaciformes.

What does the Cockatiel eat?

The Cockatiel is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.

Does the Cockatiel migrate?

The Cockatiel is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

Is the Cockatiel endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the Cockatiel make?

1 real field recording of the Cockatiel — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Cockatiel's range?

The Cockatiel has a mapped global range of about 6.5 million km².

Conservation

Least Concern

Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.

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