Submission rejected on 25 May 2026 by DoubleGrazing (talk). The subject is contrary to the purpose of Wikipedia. Rejected by DoubleGrazing 12 days ago. Last edited by DoubleGrazing 12 days ago. |  |
This draft appears to be a duplicate of an existing article. Wikipedia does not permit multiple articles on the same topic.
Declined by Aydoh8 13 days ago.
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Comment: As already pointed out, we have an existing article on Cockatiel. DoubleGrazing (talk) 07:19, 25 May 2026 (UTC)
Cockatiels
Cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) are small, long‑tailed parrots native exclusively to mainland Australia**, where they occupy vast stretches of arid and semi‑arid interior habitat. They are the only species in the genus Nymphicus and the smallest members of the cockatoo family.
Cockatiels belong to the order Psittaciformes and the family Cacatuidae. They were once thought to be parakeets but molecular studies confirmed they are true cockatoos, forming their own subfamily, Nymphicinae. Kingdom: Animalia Order: Psittaciformes Family: Cacatuidae Subfamily: Nymphicinae Genus: Nymphicus Species: N. hollandicus Their genus name reflects early European explorers’ impression that the birds were “beautiful as nymphs,” while hollandicus refers to “New Holland,” an early European name for Australia.
Cockatiels are endemic to Australia — meaning they occur naturally nowhere else in the world. They are found across nearly the entire mainland, especially the interior regions of: Western Australia Northern Territory Queensland New South Wales They avoid the dense rainforests of the far eastern coast, the extreme southwestern corner, and the deepest central deserts. Tasmania is not part of their natural range; populations there are introduced.
Cockatiels thrive in open, dry environments, including: Grasslands and savannas Open woodlands Acacia scrub Semi‑arid shrublands Farmland and lightly wooded areas They strongly prefer habitats near freshwater, such as rivers, billabongs, and ephemeral lakes. Even in arid regions, they rarely stray far from water sources, which are essential for drinking and nesting.
Cockatiels are adapted to the extreme temperature swings of inland Australia: Winter nights can drop to 4.5°C Summer heat can exceed 43°C Their nomadic lifestyle allows them to track rainfall and seed availability across vast distances. They can fly long distances efficiently thanks to their lightweight skeleton and long, aerodynamic tail.
Wild cockatiels have a consistent appearance: Length: 30–33 cm Weight: 80–100 g Wingspan: ~50 cm Coloration: Grey body, yellow face, orange cheek patches. Crest: Long, expressive, and used for communication. Females and juveniles have duller plumage and barred tail feathers, while males have brighter facial coloration.
Cockatiels are highly social and can be found: In pairs In small groups In flocks of hundreds to over a thousand during times of abundant food They are nomadic rather than territorial, moving in response to rainfall and seed production. Their flocking behavior provides safety from predators, especially raptors.
Cockatiels are primarily granivores, feeding on: Grass seeds Acacia seeds Shrub and tree seeds They forage mostly on the ground, taking quick sips of water due to vulnerability to predators.
Breeding is often triggered by rainfall. Cockatiels are secondary cavity nesters, using hollows in dead eucalypts near water. Clutch size: 3–8 eggs Both parents incubate and feed chicks Nests are typically 1–2 meters above ground.
Cockatiels are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN due to their wide distribution and stable population. They remain one of the most adaptable and resilient bird species in Australia.