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Cockatiel< Alternate name(s): "Quarrion", "Cockatoo Parrot" ![]() Size: 31-33 cm Weight: 88-178 g |
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See Cockatiel
at Wikipedia |
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Photos |
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ADULT |
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MALE |
Near-frontal view of an adult male Cockatiel
[Near Bellata, NSW, June 2014]
Lateral view of a male Cockatiel
[Near Narrabri, NSW, October 2010]
Dorsal view of a male Cockatiel
[Near Narrabri, NSW, October 2007]
Lateral view of a male Cockatiel in flight
[Near Bellata, NSW, June 2014]
Ventral view of a male Cockatiel in flight
[Near Narrabri, NSW, October 2018]
Pair of snoozing Cockatiels - male on the left, female on the right
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, July 2017]
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FEMALE |
Close-up near-frontal view of a female Cockatiel
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Durikai State Forest, near Warwick, QLD, September 2017]
Lateral view of a female Cockatiel in brilliant evening sunlight
[Near Narrabri, NSW, October 2010]
Dorsal view of a female Cockatiel
[Near Bellata, NSW, May 2015]
Pair of Cockatiels (male on the left), perfectly camouflaged for
foraging on bitumen... note the finely barred pattern on the rump,
uppertail, legs and forehead of the female
[Near Narrabri, NSW, October 2007]
Two Cockatiels feeding
[Near Narrabri, NSW, October 2007]
Oi, mate, he's watching us! -- Aaah, never mind, he's harmless...
[Near Narrabri, NSW, October 2007]
Typical view of a small group of Cockatiels perched in a tree; the
males have the prominent orange cheek patches
[Near Bellata, NSW, June 2014]
Lateral view of a pair of Cockatiels in flight
[Near Wee Waa, NSW, September 2012]
Dorsal view of a pair of Cockatiels in flight
[Near Wee Waa, NSW, September 2012]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Frontal view of a juvenile Cockatiel
[Near Bellata, NSW, May 2015]
Juvenile Cockatiel high up in a dead tree
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, November 2017]
Dorsal view of a juvenile Cockatiel high up in a dead tree
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, November 2017]
Lateral view of a very young Cockatiel; note the short crest and
the brownish plumage
[Near Gunndedah, NSW, January 2012]
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Behaviour |
Social behaviour: Communal | Mobility: Dispersive | Elementary unit: Flock |
Like many other species of parrots and cockatoos, Cockatiels are very sociable birds, which are usually found in flocks, or at least small groups.
Small flock of Cockatiels resting in what shade there is to be found
in the crown of a tree on a hot summer's day
[Near Walgett, NSW, April 2009]
Flock of about 100 Cockatiels perched in a convenient eucalypt tree
[Near Bellata, NSW, May 2015]
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Food, Diet |
Adults: Seeds | Dependents: Regurgitated seeds | Water intake: Daily |
Like basically all cockatoos and many parrots, Cockatiels are seed-eaters; primarily they take grass seeds.
Flock of Cockatiels feeding by a roadside
[Near Burren Junction, NSW, June 2012]
While the rest of the flock was feeding by the roadside, this male
Cockatiel was on "sentry duty"
[Near Burren Junction, NSW, June 2012]
When a flock of Cockatiels really gets stuck into it, one can see
almost only grey
[Near Burren Junction, NSW, June 2012]
Sometimes Cockatiels can also be seen to find food on the bitumen of a
sealed road
[Near Moree, NSW, June 2013]
Mixed flock of
Galahs and
Cockatiels rising in alarm caused by the observer's car;
they were disturbed while cleaning up a
roadside
grain spill
[Burren Junction, NSW, May 2018]
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Call(s)/Song |
For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own;
comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.
cockatl_20160727.mp3 | (NW NSW) | Contact calls (male) | © MD | |
cockatl_20140328.mp3 | (NW NSW) | Contact call | © MD | |
cockatl_20140627_3.mp3 | (NW NSW) | Contact calls (in-flight) | © MD | |
cockatl_20140627_6.mp3 | (NW NSW) | Contact calls (in-flight) | © MD | |
cockatl_20140424.mp3 | (NW NSW) | Pair Q&A (in-flight) | © MD | |
cockatl_20140723.mp3 | (NW NSW) | Alarm calls (in-flight) | © MD | |
cockatl_20171115.m4a | (NW NSW) | Adult male with juvenile | © MD | |
cockatl_20171115_2.m4a | (NW NSW) | Adult male with juvenile | © MD | |
cockatl_20150519_2.mp3 | (NW NSW) | Various (with begging calls) | © MD | |
galah_20140627.mp3 | (NW NSW) | Mixed flock (with Galahs) | © MD |