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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Cacatuidae
  4. ›
  5. Nymphicus
  6. ›
  7. Cockatiel
Cockatiel
Photo · (c) dhfischer, some rights reserved (CC BY)

BirdUp · Species

Cockatiel

Nymphicus hollandicus(Kerr, 1792)

Updated 21 March 2026

Origin: Native
Order
PSITTACIFORMES
Family
Cacatuidae
Genus
Nymphicus

At a glance

The Cockatiel is a medium-sized bird, about 29–32 cm long, native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
29–32 cm
Origin
Native
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Very common
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Cockatiel look like?

The Cockatiel is a medium-sized bird, about 29–32 cm long and weighing 59–107 g.

The cockatiel, also known as the weero/weiro or quarrion, is a medium-sized parrot that is a member of its own branch of the cockatoo family endemic to Australia. They are prized as exotic household pets and companion parrots throughout the world and are relatively easy to breed compared to other parrots. As a caged bird, cockatiels are second in popularity only to the budgerigar.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
29–32 cm
Weight
59–107 g
Wingspan
25 cm

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Cockatiel?

The Cockatiel is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Cockatiel eat?

The Cockatiel feeds on seeds, usually foraging in pairs or flocks.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

5 photos

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Cockatiel live in Australia?

The Cockatiel is native to Australia, recorded across 81 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingAustralia (except north, south, Tasmania)

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident
  • Non-breeding

8 regions recorded