Cockatiels(Nymphicus hollandicus)
Cockatiels are intelligent, social, curious, and highly adaptable companion birds. They are known for their expressive crests, whistles, affectionate personalities, and ability to develop strong relationships with their keepers.
Cockatiel care
- A suitably sized and safely designed enclosure
- Daily opportunities for exercise
- A varied and nutritionally appropriate diet
- Safe toys and enrichment
- Social interaction
- Regular sleep
- Access to qualified avian veterinary care
Cockatiels communicate through body language, vocalizations, posture, crest position, feather position, and behaviour. Learning to recognize these signals helps owners understand when a bird is relaxed, excited, frightened, curious, territorial, or uncomfortable.
Cockatiel Mutations
Every colour and pattern you see today has a real origin — a specific aviary, breeder, and year where it first appeared and was established.
- 01
Pied
The first mutation to occur in captivity. It appeared in California, in the aviaries of Mrs. R. Kersh and D. Putnam, in 1949. Mrs. Kersh continued to work with the Pied mutation until 1979.
- 02
Lutino
The second established mutation. It first appeared in Miami, Florida, in the aviary of Mr. Cliff Barringer in 1958. Mrs. Moon then successfully established the mutation.
- 03
Pearl
The third established mutation, first bred and established in West Germany in 1967.
- 04
Cinnamon
The fourth established mutation, established in Belgium by Mr. Van Otterdijk in 1967.
- 05
Recessive Silver
The fifth established mutation, first established in New Zealand at the start of the 1950s. The Recessive Silver found in the U.S. is of European origin and was imported in the late 1960s.
- 06
Fallow
The sixth established mutation, originating in Florida in Mrs. Irma Vowels's aviary in 1971. Fallows were also noted in Europe as early as 1973, though it's uncertain whether the same mutation occurred independently on both continents or came from imported birds carrying splits.
- 07
Whiteface
The seventh established mutation, first appearing in Holland in 1969. By the late 1970s it had been bred in Germany, then reached the UK in 1979. It was imported into the U.S. in 1984 by Dale Thompson.
- 08
Dominant Silver
The eighth established mutation, discovered in the United Kingdom — in a pet shop — by Terry Cole in 1979.
- 09
Pastelface
The ninth established mutation, originating in the United Kingdom in the aviary of Bob Crossley in the late 1980s.
- 10
Sex-Linked Yellow Cheek
The tenth established mutation, established in Germany by Bruno Rehm during the early 1990s. Elsie Burgin, Nancy Rocheleau, and Dave Okura legally imported this mutation into the U.S. in 1992. Breeders soon combined Yellowface with other mutations.
- 11
Dominant Yellow Cheek
The eleventh established mutation, reported to appear in a Florida aviary around 1996 — the first truly dominant mutation established in the U.S.
- 12
Gold Cheek
The twelfth established mutation, first appearing in Virginia in the aviary of Barbara Greene in the early 1990s.
- 13
Emerald
The thirteenth established mutation, first appearing in the aviary of Norma and John Ludwig during the 1980s. They contacted Margie Mason in Texas to work with the birds.
- 14
Creamface
The fourteenth established mutation, first occurring in South Africa with Mr. Lester de Kock. Margie Mason brought Creamface to the U.S. around 2003-2004. Jason Patin of Lafayette, Louisiana is currently breeding the South African mutation.
Courtesy: Sussane Russo
Try the Zee Aviary Cockatiel Genetic Calculator →