While cockatiels are one of the best smaller talking birds, they certainly aren’t on the same level as the African grey. Your bird will have a high, little voice and will be able to learn about fifty words if you work with it consistently and it has the desire to learn to talk. Some cockatiels simply prefer to whistle and will learn several complicated tunes, but will refuse to say as much as ‘Hello’ to their owners.

If you have family members with allergies or asthma, they may be affected by the dander your cockatiel sheds. These birds, like African greys and cockatoos, have quite a bit of dander. If you decide to get a cockatiel despite the possibility of allergies, be prepared to spend time each day misting your bird’s feathers to help keep dander down. You may also need to consider buying a plexiglass cage to keep your bird from spreading seed hulls, dander and dust where it would irritate your family’s allergies.

If you decide that a cockatiel is right for you, you will need to make another decision – which color mutation you want. Cockatiels have been raised in captivity for so many years that it is no surprise that they come in a wide range of colors.

The standard grey cockatiels are the most common. Males have a bright yellow face with orange cheek patches when they mature. Cinnamon cockatiels are an attractive tan color mutation. Male cinnamons also develop a yellow face and bright orange cheek patches as they mature.

Pearl cockatiels have white pearl-like spots on their wings and chest. However, when males mature, they lose their pearl spots. Normal pearls look like grey cockatiels and cinnamon pearls look like cinnamon males.

Pieds are also very popular. These birds have grey, cinnamon, or pearl splotches on yellow or white bodies. A clear pied is almost all yellow with color on the wings.

Lutino cockatiels, whiteface and yellowface cockatiels are also available. Lutino cockatiels, with their bright yellow coloring, are very popular pets. However, of all the cockatiels, lutinos are the most high strung, often given to ‘frighting’ for no apparent reason. There are exceptions, but for a first bird, you may want to consider a different color mutation.

Finally, once you choose your cockatiel, you will need to select the right cage for it. Although you do not need to be concerned about having your bird bend wires with his beak, you do need to take a close look at the cage spacing. If your bird can stick his head through the bars, it may decide to stick it back in through another set of bars instead of simply sliding it back out.

More than one cockatiel has gotten stuck doing this and it can prove fatal if the bird is not discovered in time. For this reason, be sure you look for a cage designed for cockatiels. The spacing between the bars should never be wider than 3/4 of an inch (1,91 cm).

Cockatiels photo by Matt Benson

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Well, although cockatoos are usually affectionate and smart, there are some drawbacks to owning one of these birds. Before you pick out your cuddly new baby, you should think carefully about whether a cockatoo is really right for you and your lifestyle.

If you live in an apartment or town house, a cockatoo can be a bad idea. After all, the loudest sound in nature is made by the flamboyant Moluccan cockatoo. Most other cockatoo species are also on the noisy side. If you live in an apartment and you do decide you still want one of these parrots, you should opt for one of the quieter species.

The rose breasted cockatoo is the quietest of these parrots and has a very sweet disposition. The sulfur crested can be loud, but not intolerably so. Goffin cockatoos are also a bit quieter than many of the other cockatoos. However, you should be aware that a quiet cockatoo is not the same as a quiet bird. Rose breasted and goffin cockatoos are simply not as loud as other cockatoos. Overall, this is not a quiet species and can really cause problems if you live in an apartment or town house.

If you have allergies, you may also find that a cockatoo is a poor choice for you. These birds shed quite a bit of dander, covering the surrounding area with dust. If you do decide to go ahead with your decision to buy a cockatoo, you should be prepared to invest in an acrylic cage and a good air filter. Frequent misting will help keep your bird’s dander down, as well. However, if you have allergy induced asthma and are allergic to birds, these precautions may not be enough to protect you.

While cockatoos are very vocal, they do not have the superb talking ability of an African grey. Since most cockatoo owners are not as concerned about their bird’s mimicking ability as they are interested in its affectionate nature, this should not be a major drawback. After all, cockatoos can still learn quite a few words and phrases.

If you want your bird to be happy and healthy, you will need to be prepared to spend time with it. Cockatoos are social birds and enjoy spending time with the family. When you aren’t there, you will need to be sure your bird is able to amuse himself. Provide toys that require interaction, such as maze or puzzle toys. Just remember that your bird has a very powerful beak and will need toys that are designed for large parrots. Toys for small birds can be unsafe for cockatoos because they are easily shattered.

Once you’ve considered all of the drawbacks to owning a cockatoo, it is time to decide if you can handle one of these wonderful parrots. If you want a cuddly bird and aren’t sensitive to noise, the cockatoo may just be the perfect choice for you.

Cockatoo photo by Juan Tello

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