1. Courtship:
- Males display courtship behaviors to impress females.
- They fan their tail feathers, bob their heads, sing songs, and spread their wings.
- They may also bring food to the female as a gift.
- Females assess males and select the most suitable mate based on these displays.
2. Nesting:
- Once a pair has formed, they begin searching for a suitable nesting site.
- Cockatiels typically nest in tree hollows or crevices, but they may also use nest boxes provided by humans.
- The female selects the nesting site and begins building the nest.
- She uses various materials such as twigs, leaves, bark, and feathers to construct a comfortable and well-insulated nest.
3. Egg Laying:
- After the nest is ready, the female begins laying eggs.
- Cockatiels typically lay 4-8 eggs, but some clutches can have up to 12 eggs.
- The eggs are smooth, white, and oval in shape.
4. Incubation:
- Both parents participate in incubating the eggs.
- The female usually incubates during the day, while the male takes over at night.
- The incubation period lasts for about 18-21 days.
5. Hatching and Chick Rearing:
- Once the eggs hatch, the chicks are altricial, meaning they are helpless and rely on their parents for food and care.
- Both parents feed the chicks by regurgitating partially digested food into their mouths.
- The chicks grow rapidly and fledge (leave the nest) around 5-6 weeks after hatching.
6. Fledging and Independence:
- After fledging, the young cockatiels stay with their parents for several weeks while they learn to fly and find food independently.
- During this time, the parents continue to provide them with some food and protection.
- Eventually, the young cockatiels become independent and leave the family group to find their own mates and territories.