How to Tell the Age of a Cockatiel: 12 Vet Reviewed Methods

A cockatiel is a small, colorful parrot from the cockatoo family. You can always distinguish it by the prominent crest on the head.

Cockatiels are easier to tame than other parrot species, thanks to their smaller sizes. Plus, they are just as capable of mimicking speech, although it can sometimes be challenging to understand them.

There’s a lot more to know about a cockatiel, but one issue that continuously baffles cockatiel owners is determining the bird’s age. Keep reading, and you’ll discover various ways to do it.

The 12 Ways to Tell the Age of a Cockatiel

If you didn’t adopt a cockatiel during its hatching stage, you could never be sure of its age. However, there are several factors you can look at to help determine the age, including changes in physical appearance.

Cockatiels experience several changes as they age, many of which are similar to the human experience.

1. Beaks

You can determine your cockatiel’s age by examining its face and beak. A young cockatiel will have an immature “baby” face.  It also has bigger exposed beaks, mainly because the feathers on the beak side are short.

On the other hand, older cockatiels have small beaks since the feathers at the beak side cover most parts of the beak.

2. Body Size

Mature birds are typically larger than young birds, ranging between 12 to 13 inches long. You can also see that the patches on the cheek grow considerably large and cover nearly the entire face.

You may want to avoid buying a bird with an enlarged cheek patch, which indicates that it is very old.

3. Sleeping Hours

Old cockatiels tend to sleep more than the young ones. They can sleep for up to 17–18 hours daily besides daytime naps. Young ones sleep the usual 10–14 hours a day.

4. Pelvic Bones

You can examine the pelvic bones to gauge a cockatiel’s age, primarily if you’ve owned one before.

Female cockatiel pelvic bones widen as they age. When the distance between their legs is wide, the cockatiel is ready to start laying eggs.

5. Singing Voice

The bird’s voice can help with determining a male cockatiel’s age. The reason is that baby cockatiels and females rarely vocalize unless provoked. However, mature male cockatiels usually sing with a louder voice than their younger male counterparts.

6. Tail Feathers

A cockatiel’s tail feathers usually equal the body size until it’s 1 year old.  The feathers then start getting more prolonged than the body after the 1-year mark.

7. Nails

Older cockatiels have very long nails that appear cracked and usually bend inwards.

8. Eyes

The cockatiel’s eyes are usually larger when it’s young but get smaller as it gets older.

9. Crest

A baby cockatiel’s crest is usually short with straight feathers, while mature birds have longer crests that bend slightly backward.

10. Adolescence

Cockatiels reach adolescence when they molt for the first time, at around 6–12 months.

The females become less colorful, and the color of the males’ cheeks and the bottom of their flight feathers changes.

11. Foot Scales

Like other birds, a younger cockatiel tends to have smoother skin with fewer scales. However, the scales increase with age, making the skin feel rougher.

12. Courting Behavior

A cockatiel’s courting behavior can give away its age. Male birds begin displaying courtship behaviors such as strutting and hopping when they are around 6 months old.

On the other hand, female cockatiels become broody at around 10–18 months. Then, they may start burrowing to prepare a nesting place to lay their eggs.

If you’re new to the wonderful world of cockatiels, you’ll need a great resource to help your birds thrive. We highly recommend taking a closer look at The Ultimate Guide to Cockatiels, available on Amazon.

This excellent book covers everything from the history, color mutations, and anatomy of cockatiels to expert housing, feeding, breeding, and health care tips.

Cockatiel Origins

Cockatiels are native to Australia and are also called quarrions or weiros. They live in large flocks in the wild and exhibit characters similar to other parrots.

Cockatiels became popular household pets in the 1900s, but it’s no longer possible to trap and export them from Australia. They are docile, friendly, and easy to breed in captivity, making them a natural fit for human companionship.

Temperament

Cockatiels are attractive as well as friendly, and any bird lover will tell you how delightful it is to own one.

They are gentle and affectionate birds that love to be petted. They may not mimic your words as parrots do. However, they can bond with you and stay loyal, especially if they are born into captivity and see you immediately.

The males and females have different demeanors, and males are much noisier than their female counterparts. Female cockatiels don’t vocalize or communicate much. They only do so if they are in the mood or want water, food, or treats.

The only time both genders match their craziness is during their breeding season.

Interesting Details About the Cockatiel

Many pet parents around the world own cockatiels. However, very few know just how special and unique they are.

You’ll be surprised at how perfect they are, that you can even use them to explain various complex biological concepts! For instance:

They Rely on Visual Communication

Cockatiels are expressive birds that use their head crest feathers to communicate their feelings. A cockatiel can display its “mood” to its owner or other cockatiels by simply changing the position of the crest feathers.

Of course, every bird is unique and has a distinctive personality. However, cockatiels generally have the same body language.

For instance, it may straighten the crest to alert you of danger or show you it’s curious. This usually happens when the bird sees something new or when it gets excited over a treat.

Contrastingly, a flattened crest means that the cockatiel is frightened or angry. It may also include a hissing sound.

Imprinting Is Important

A cockatiel establishes a bond with the first person it lays its eyes on after hatching. This is because baby cockatiels imprint on the first thing they see after they hatch.

This behavior is useful in the wild because it makes a bird ready to join the rest of the flock’s social fabric. However, it also makes a bird bond closely with the owner, which is desirable for most owners but may not be so good in the long run.

The reason is that the bird gets easily depressed if you leave it alone for an extended period. This is why keeping more than one cockatiel for companionship is essential.

Final Thoughts

One reason you may be interested in adopting a cockatiel is its longevity. They can live as long as 16 to 25 years in captivity.

This means that if you get a recently hatched baby cockatiel for your kids, they’ll grow up together. Considering this, determining its age won’t be based on guesswork anymore!

Featured Image Credit: Bildagentur Zoonar GmbH, Shutterstock