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- Jul 29, 2023
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- 2 cockatiels
There has long been discussion and debate on whether or not the cockatiel is part of the cockatoo family.
Two male cockatiels in the wild
A couple of decades ago the taxonomical classification of the cockatiel was not linked to the cockatoo. I have always been in disagreement with this but they have changed it now and added the cockatiel to the cockatoo family, Cacatuidae, in which there are 21 species.
The yellow tail black cockatoo has cheek patches that resemble the cockatiels
The tiels main difference is its size, much smaller than the other cockatoos. It's got a long pointy tail which makes it a parakeet as well.
It's main similarity is its unique crest. Other birds have crests but can't move and control them like cockys. The tiels cheek patches are reminiscent of the cheek patches among some of the large cockatoo species like the palm and yellow tail. The tiels head and face resembles a cockatoo.
The sulphur crested cockatoo has a crest like the cockatiels and lightly coloured cheeks as well
So then scientifically speaking cockatiels are cockatoos too 🙂
Sources
lafeber.com
a-z-animals.com
And a book on Australian birds that my sister got me for Xmas. Very thoughtful of her
Two male cockatiels in the wild
A couple of decades ago the taxonomical classification of the cockatiel was not linked to the cockatoo. I have always been in disagreement with this but they have changed it now and added the cockatiel to the cockatoo family, Cacatuidae, in which there are 21 species.
The yellow tail black cockatoo has cheek patches that resemble the cockatiels
The tiels main difference is its size, much smaller than the other cockatoos. It's got a long pointy tail which makes it a parakeet as well.
It's main similarity is its unique crest. Other birds have crests but can't move and control them like cockys. The tiels cheek patches are reminiscent of the cheek patches among some of the large cockatoo species like the palm and yellow tail. The tiels head and face resembles a cockatoo.
The sulphur crested cockatoo has a crest like the cockatiels and lightly coloured cheeks as well
So then scientifically speaking cockatiels are cockatoos too 🙂
Sources
Cockatiels Are Cockatoos, Too – Pet Birds by Lafeber Co.
You might have a cockatoo in your home without even knowing it! Yes, your diminutive cockatiel—the most popular pet bird in the US—is, in fact, related to the much larger cockatoos. When you take a closer look at the cockatiel, you’ll start to see the cockatoo connection.
lafeber.com
Cockatoo vs Cockatiel: Key Differences Explained
The cockatoo and cockatiel are famous in the world of birdkeeping, but are they even different? Let's explore the Cockatoo vs Cockatiel!
