Cockatiels in the Rainforest

Cockatiels may be better known as small, colorful pet birds, but large populations are found in the wild. Cockatiels do not live in rain forests; native to Australia, cockatiels prefer open spaces. The birds are highly social and live in large family groups, a trait that makes them good as companion pets. Social grooming in the wild means that pet birds enjoy being stroked by their owners.

  1. Description

    • Cockatiels are small birds that grow to around 11 inches in length and around 3 ounces in weight. They are slender birds and are mainly gray in color. Males have a colorful yellow face with orange cheek markings, a crest and white shoulder patches on each wing. The underside of the tail is darker gray than the body; it is almost black, as are the legs. The females have similar coloring but tend to be duller. The gray back coloring is a defense from aerial predators who find it hard to spot the cockatiel in shady conditions.

    Habitat and Range

    • Cockatiels travel in large flocks and prefer the open, arid grasslands of Australia's interior. They are not found in dense rain forest habitats. The bird does live in the thinner forest areas on the fringes of dense forest, often near water sources. The bird's range extends to the south, north and west of the interior toward the coastal regions. Southern Australia populations are migratory due to the more changeable weather conditions, and large flocks of 100 to 1,000 birds move in predictable patterns.

    Diet and Predators

    • The cockatiel finds most of its food on the ground and has feet that are suitable for walking on flat surfaces. The bulk of the bird's diet consists of dry seeds with fruit, berries, plant matter and a small amount of insects making up the rest. The birds are also known as pests because they feed on crop seeds. Birds of prey are the main predator of cockatiels, often taking them in flight. Other than its coloration, the only defense the bird has is a strong bite that can do some substantial damage.

    Life Cycle

    • Within the large flocks, cockatiels form pair bonds for breeding, which tends to happen in the rainiest seasons. The pair will claim a nest site, often in a dead tree hollow about 6 feet off the ground. The female lays between four and seven eggs each season. Both parents take turns incubating the eggs, which takes 17 to 23 days. Once the eggs are hatched, both parents help feed the chicks until they fledge after three to five weeks. In the wild the birds live 10 to 14 years. The oldest captive bird was 36 years old when it died.