Cockatiels are nomadic natives of the arid Australian interior. With a characteristic head crest, they look similar to cockatoos, but with a more slender form and a relatively long tail. Wild cockatiels are primarily gray, with yellow on the head and crest, white on the sides of the wings, and orange on cheek patches. Breeders have developed numerous other mutations over the decades.

Cockatiels have become popular pets due to their attractive appearance, low-cost, manageability, friendliness, and intelligence. They can live for over twenty years, are small and relatively quiet, can talk (although not as readily or as well as other parrots can), and can become adept whistlers. 'Tiels posses many of the most endearing attributes of larger parrots, but without the accompanying problems.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Cacatuidae
Genus: Nymphicus
Species: hollandicus