Some Interesting Facts About Your Cockatiels

1. It's normally the male cockatiel that is the best at whistling and singing. They use their vocal skills to attract females in the wild so they are generally better at it.
2. A cockatiel won't like it if you approach them with your hand over it's head. It may feel threatened by this and make their displeasure known to you.
3. Whilst you might think that your cockatiel is a noisy so-and-so, they are actually quieter than most parrots. So when your cockatiel is excited and makes lots of noise, just think about how quiet it is compared to other birds!
4. Cockatiels need quite a lot of sleep. You'll need to make sure that your cockatiel gets 12-14 hours of snoozing every night - ideally in the dark and quiet.
5. Cockatiels are very sociable birds. They like to get the attention, contact and to be kept busy.
6. The lifespan of an average cockatiel in captivity is around 15-25 years. If you are thinking about getting one as a pet, it's obviously a long term commitment.
7. The head crest of a cockatiel will change angle depending on it's mood! It's normally vertical when the cockatiel is excited or alarmed, and flat to it's head if it's angry.
8. Females are normally slightly more aggressive than male cockatiels. Mind you if you look after your cockatiel well you shouldn't see their angry side!
9. A cockatiel is normally around 12-14 inches long. Most of their length is made up by their tail.
10. Cockatiels are better at whistling than they are at talking! In fact some extra-talented cockatiels can whistle entire songs.