Are White Cockatiels Rare?

Althought albinism is a rare condition in mammals, purely white cockatiels aren't as uncommon as you might think. They are part of a larger breed of cockatiel specifically bred for domestication. This breed, known as the lutino, is popular among bird owners and enthusiasts for its bright colors and healthy disposition.

  1. General Information

    • As their beak indicates, cockatiels are part of the parrot family. These popular birds share relation with cockatoos as well. A prominent cockatiel feature, as with all parrot family birds, is its erectile crest. The crest often indicates the cockatiel's mood, erect when happy or stimulated, flat when unhappy or depressed, and somewhere in the middle when things are status quo. Unlike other parrots, however, cockatiels have very long tails that make up half of their overall body length.

    Lutino Breed

    • White cockatiels are also known as lutinos, a particular breed of the bird. They are a very common mutation and can be found in most pet stores that sell the birds. They range in color from bright yellow to washed-out white, and tend to live long, healthy lives, avoiding serious illnesses.

    Whiteface Lutinos

    • White variations of lutinos are created when the recessive gene is passed. This is similar to albinism in mammals, but occurs much more frequently among aviary pets. The gene that removes the pigment, as well as the gene that causes whiteface, must be present for a whiteface lutino to be created.

    Domestication

    • Lutino cockatiels are not found in the wild. They are raised by breeders and marketed as pets. But their closely related counterparts, gray cockatiels, are found in the wild in Australia and Tasmania.