Cockatiel Nymphicus hollandicus
The largest and most affectionate of the three parrots that are unambiguously legal to keep in China. It whistles tunes, and the crest on its head broadcasts its mood. The downsides are heavy feather dust and a long-standing habit of night frights.
βοΈ Legal status Β· Legal to keep
One of the three parrot species whose captive-bred individuals are explicitly permitted for keeping and trade in China (the others being the budgerigar and the peach-faced lovebird). Nearly all other parrots are CITES-listed and strictly regulated.
Check another species βKey parameters
- Lifespan
- 15-25 years, over 20 with careful care
- Adult size
- 30-33 cm including tail, 80-120 g
- Diet
- Pellets or a seed mix as the base, with dark leafy vegetables, cuttlebone and grit provided long term
- Temperature
- 18-28 Β°C. Avoid stuffiness, draughts and sudden temperature swings
- Humidity
- 40-60%
β Suits you if
Anyone with daily time to give, wanting a bird that forms a long-term bond, and able to live with dust and noise
π« Do not get one if
People allergic to feather dust or with respiratory conditions, households empty all day, or anyone needing a quiet environment
Starter equipment list
Buy all of it before the animal arrives, not after.
- Cage: 60Γ50Γ70 cm minimum for one bird, enough to fully extend the wings, with horizontal bars for climbing
- Several natural wood perches of differing diameters β never all the same smooth dowel
- Separate food and water dishes, plus a third dish for vegetables
- Cuttlebone and grit, always available
- A night light β cockatiels are prone to night frights, and a dim light markedly reduces cage-thrashing injuries
- Chew and foraging toys, rotated every couple of weeks
Most common beginner mistakes
- 1 No night light β night frights are specific to cockatiels, and blind flying in the dark causes injuries every year
- 2 Underestimating the dust β cockatiels are heavy powder producers, so anyone with respiratory sensitivity must assess this first
- 3 Stroking the back and tail β it stimulates hens into chronic egg laying. Head and neck only is safe
- 4 Keeping the cage in the kitchen β fumes from overheated non-stick coatings kill birds within minutes
- 5 Seed-only diets β monotonous feeding causes obesity and liver disease
- 6 Avocado, chocolate, onion, alcohol and caffeine β all toxic to birds
Common illnesses
| Illness | Common cause | What you'll see |
|---|---|---|
| Psittacosis (chlamydiosis) | Contact with a carrier bird or dust from its droppings | Lethargy, green watery droppings, laboured breathing β transmissible to humans, seek veterinary care immediately |
| Night fright injuries | Startled in the dark and thrashing blindly into the cage bars | Broken feathers or blood in the cage tray in the morning, injured wings or feet |
| Chronic egg laying | Excessive light hours, over-rich diet, or being stroked along the back | Repeated infertile clutches, causing severe calcium depletion, exhaustion and eventually egg binding |
| Macrorhabdiosis (AGY) | Fungal infection, typically in immunocompromised birds | Progressive weight loss, undigested seed in droppings, eating heavily without gaining |
| Trichomoniasis | Shared water dishes, transmission from parent birds when feeding | Repeated regurgitation, difficulty swallowing, yellow deposits in the mouth |
Frequently asked
Cockatiel or budgie?
Cockatiels are twice the size, live twice as long (15-25 years against 5-10), and are more affectionate and gentler β but they produce far more dust and need a bigger cage. Budgies are livelier, noisier, cheaper and better talkers. First bird with limited time, choose a budgie; able to commit long term, choose a cockatiel.
What does the crest tell me?
Straight up usually means alert or curious; flattened right back means tense or unhappy; a natural slight forward tilt means relaxed. It is the most direct read on their mood you get.
Why does it suddenly thrash around the cage at night?
That is a night fright. Cockatiels startle in complete darkness and fly blindly. The fix is a dim night light in the room and placing the cage somewhere undisturbed after dark.