PEARL COCKATIELS - A Very Beautiful And Unusual Feather Pattern

Pearl Cockatiel - Photo: Wikimedia

Unlike other mutations of cockatiels that have been achieved over the years, the pearl cockatiels are not really a color mutation, but rather a change of feather pattern. This very lovely feather pattern when combined with various color mutations results in some outstandingly, beautiful cockatiels.

Various cockatiel mutations have been achieved through the years by very careful selective breeding. Most bird owners now think that the normal grey cockatiel is pretty boring. There are trade-offs, however. The more the mutation from the normal grey, the less intelligent and ditzy the bird seems to get. Our three cockatiels who are mutations are much more flighty, more easily scared, and have more night frights than our two normal greys.

Pearl cockatiel varieties include the lutino pearl cockatiel which has the yellow lutino coloration with the pearl feather pattern. Lutino pearls retain the orange cheek patch. The cinnamon pearled cockatiel has the cinnamon mutation with the pearl feather pattern which results in a very pretty bird. The pied pearl cockatiel as well as the pied coloration with a pearl feather pattern. The pastel pearl cockatiel, which we have, does not have the orange cheek patch.

An important thing to know if you are looking to purchase a pearl cockatiel is that only the female pearl will retain the full pearl feather pattern for life after the first molt or later in the second year. Male pearls plumage will usually fade to the point of looking like a normal grey. On rare occasions will it stay. His coloring will be somewhat like the normal grey, but his wing feathers will have two shades of grey coloring, which has an attractive pattern. The orange and yellow areas will be less intense than the normal grey.

In the hen pearls, the general body color is similar to that of the male with the ear patches not being so intense. The wing bars are less pure in color. There is no white on the crown and the yellow areas are even fainter. The thighs have barred yellow and the underside of the tail is striped and dappled with gray and yellow.

So if you want a pearl cockatiel, the best bet is to purchase an older pearl cockatiel who has molted or is around two years old to assure that you will keep the pearl color. Or you can play the odds. We got lucky and bought our female pearl as a newly weaned baby. To our delight, she turned out to be female and is very beautiful. She gets lots of compliments from our friends. The pearly cockatiels are very lovely birds and are a great addition to any aviary

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By Shari H - Article Source: EzineArticles

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PEARL COCKATIEL - Main Characteristics and Behaviors

Photo  by fresnel_chick 

Pearl cockatiel is identified through its pearl markings which are usually found in its back, nape and wings. They have scallop-like feathers and they have established the third mutation of the cockatiel species. It is significant to note that the pearl in their body is the effect of their feather pattern changes not a color change.

The pearl cockatiel has many nicknames such as the pearled cockatiel, laced cockatiel, pearly tiels, pearly cockatiel, pearl tiels and opaline cockatiel. The part of their body wherein the wings, nape and back feathers are edged or laced with the yellow or white color is known as pearling. While there are deeply pearled birds, there are lightly pearled ones as well.

Male species of the pearl cockatiel do not lose this pearling though it can faint for some time and that only the heavily pearled ones are seen with the markings for long. Conversely, the female cockatiels do not lose these markings throughout their life. Pearling patterns vary from small to big patterns. Yellow cockatiels can look like cinnamon mutations with tannish brown coloring rather than gray or black. They are sometimes called Golden Pearls.

Pearl cockatiel mutations can extend to 30 centimeters tall. Wild cockatiels travel in flocks, thus influencing their behavior during captivity. This communal 'flock' nature makes them suitable as pets. They can adapt readily breed and adapt to changes. What's good about them is that they may be left by themselves for long, provided that they are properly nourished. They do not have loud noise, thus you will not complain about that.

Pearl cockatiel, just like other cockatiel species, loves to climb perches and play inside its cage. Thus, it would be very best for you to provide them with perches and various toys to enhance these habits and practices. Additionally, let them spend some time away from their cage if you have the chance to do so. Aside from that, cockatiels whistle and imitate speech. This is most evident in male cockatiels.

Telling whether a pearl cockatiel is male or female could be hard until the males lose their pearl complexion after some time. Female cockatiels never lose this coloration, thus this could be your significant indicator. From their initial molt, males lose their markings and return to gray after several years. The truth is, males never lose markings. It is just that their markings turn pale that they become unseen.

By Sara Looper - Sara Looper is a cockatiels expert. Article Source: EzineArticles

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COCKATIEL Sounds and What They Mean

Cockatiel - Photo  by al_fonso12 

Screeching squawks and melodic sounds are the usual cockatiel sounds. It is a known fact that male cockatiels are more talkative than the female cockatiels. The males use their skills in sounds during the mating process. If there are a lot of males trying to win a hen, the better singer gets to move up closer to the hen until the best singer is found to be the winner of the female cockatiel.

When getting cockatiels at a young age, they will tend to mimic human sounds better than their own cockatiel sounds. If you do a sing-song pattern with your cockatiel pet, you can be a cockatiel whisperer.

One way of a female cockatiel to carry a conversation with a human or a bird is mimicking what you will say to them through their sounds. On the other hand, a male cockatiel would change his tune and space depending on what he wants to converse with you to show off some points.

The male cockatiels and the female cockatiels would usually battle as to who gets to make the sweetest cockatiel sounds to be the winner.

Female cockatiels are considered to be more social than the males while the males have the better capability of mimicking and following sounds. As early as 6 months old, a male cockatiel can already start mimicking sounds. One of the cockatiel sounds that your pet would already know before you even take it home would be the "wolf ñ whistle". When males make sounds, it would usually pair it with an action by pulling back its wings to produce a heart shape. It can also make sounds by tapping on things such as its dishes, cage bar, toys and other things to get the attention of a potential mate.

Supple chirping cockatiel sounds are what the female will produce and complement it with an action by slowly lifting her tail up and slanting her head when it is ready to mate.

When cockatiels make noises and sounds that are not systematically produced, this means that they are "voicing themselves". Although cockatiels have louder voices than other birds, their voice compared to the larger parrot specie is recognized as charming since their vocal range is smaller.

By Sara Looper - Article Source: EzineArticles

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Budgies and Cockatiels as Your Pets: The Top Tips to Know

Budgerigars (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Pet birds are a blessing for many people. They're the ideal pet because they require minimal space, no outdoor access and little work from their owner. They're also cheap to buy, cheap to look after, and an all-around low cost, low maintenance pet. They provide companionship with minimal effort, whether you live on a farm or a flat on the 13th floor of an apartment block.

Some pet birds talk, of course, making them even better company than the average pet: you couldn't teach your Labrador to say hello and ask who the pretty boy is. Teaching pet birds to speak is part of the charm of owning pets- it provides an extra level of companionship as well as a potential additional hobby. If you're looking for a pet that is low maintenance, clean around the house and takes up little space, then it's probable that owning a pet bird will suit you. And if you want your pet bird to have the potential to learn to speak, then you should be looking at budgies or cockatiels for sale in your area or online.

"Budgie" is short for budgerigar, which is also called the common pet parakeet. Native to Australia, the budgerigar, or budgie is closely related to the parrot. Budgies are hugely popular around the world as a pet, particularly in the UK, where their playful disposition, attractive markings, and ability to ape human speech. The chances are that you know somebody who owns a budgerigar, so if you're interested in getting a budgie it would be an idea to investigate further by meeting and handling a friend's pet budgie, or for visiting a pet shop that has budgies for sale in order to handle one of the birds and learn all you can before deciding whether budgies are for you or not.

Cockatiels have a huge popularity across the globe, second only to that of the budgerigar. Cockatiels are part of the cockatoo family, and it's the smallest member. Much like budgerigars, cockatiels are well known for their distinctive and attractive appearance and their ability to "speak" human words.

Similar to budgerigars, cockatiels are hugely popular because of their relatively small size and the commensurately small amount of space needed to cage them. If you're looking for cockatiels for sale then it's possible that you might find the cheapest price for cockatiels on the internet, but before making that purchase you would be well advised to research for these birds for sale elsewhere.

Visit a local pet shop that has cockatiels and speaks to the trained staff there, and learn all you can about the animal. What will they eat? How long can they be left alone? How big will their cage need to be, and what is it likely to cost? Is finding just one cockatiel going to be okay, or do they need to be kept in pairs for company? All these small factors should be considered when you're looking at cockatiels as a pet.

By Robert Ian Maranon - Article Source: EzineArticles

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COCKATIEL - Why They Make The Best First Parrot

Cockatiel - Photo   by       Bohemianism    (cc)

This article focuses on the new bird enthusiast and choosing their first bird to own. In this article, I will explain why I think the cockatiel is my overall pick for the new bird owner and why. I will also give important comparisons between the cockatiel and other parrot breeds such as the African Grey, Eclectus, Conure, and others.

There are lots and lots of different breeds of parrots out there. Some are very good for petting; some are not. However, for many people who haven't own any pet parrot or any pet birds, many will feel that the cockatiel is an excellent starter bird in the parrot family. Cockatiels are usually associated with having a good personality, very friendly, good talkers, a bird you can cuddle with somewhat. They also make very good companions.

Cockatiels have been kept and breed successfully in many countries all around the world. Cockatiels can be considered as the most widely kept parrot other than parakeet or budgie (budgerigar). There are lots of research material available and many experts on cockatiels. The learning curve for the care and up-keep of cockatiels is minor and many keepers of them become experts of the cockatiel bird and their care rather quickly.

Of all of the breeds of parrots, the cockatiel is the most likely bird to satisfy the new bird owner almost immediately. Other breeds of parrots can be very nippy, biting parrots. Most tend to bond with a single individual and sometimes are even rude to people other than the owner or person they bond with. The cockatiel generally doesn't portray any of these traits, although some might, it is rare.

Okay, given the above information about cockatiels I don't want to say that all bird owners should start with a cockatiel or even imply that all bird owners should own one. What I do want to say is that if you are new to birds as pets you really should consider the cockatiel as a first bird because they are so easy to afford, take care of, and enjoy.

Price

Often the price is the deciding factor for the potential new bird owner. Every new bird enthusiast dreams of owning their dream parrot but that new pet can be very costly; sometimes in the thousands of dollars to own.

In the US, and most other countries around the world, the price of a cockatiel is very small compared to say a conure or one of the larger parrots such as the African grey. Prices for cockatiels range anywhere from as low as $30 to start with, or slightly higher for hand fed babies that are meticulously cared for by their breeders.

Of course one should realize that with birds, as is other pets, the more popular color mutation or rarity of the color can raise the price of a cockatiel. Also, a cockatiel that has been hand fed will bring a higher selling price because the breeder has spent much of their time caring for the infant bird. Compared to "parent fed" cockatiels hand fed birds are usually about 30 to 50 percent higher in selling price. I will note though if you have the choice between parent fed and hand fed, can afford the hand fed bird, get the hand fed bird. The reason being is that the breeder has given you an excellent head start in getting the most enjoyment out of owning a bird because they have had so much interaction with them.

Noise level

All birds make noise. Some very little and then some make a lot of noise. One of the first things a new bird owner realizes right away is that all birds are "vocal" to some point. By this, I mean that all birds make noise. Generally, a good rule of thumb is the larger the bird the more noise that is possible from the bird.

Now, granted that the cockatiel will be possibly noisier than say a finch, parakeet, or even a pair of lovebirds, they will in no way compare to the noise level of a Macaw or Amazon parrot. This fact should be taken into consideration especially if the new owner lives in an apartment housing unit or any area where noise level among neighbors could be a problem.

Every new bird owner would like to have a bird that can talk, but even that can be an annoyance with some of the larger birds. The African Grey, which is by far the best talker of the parrot species, is known to be able to mimic or say just about anything it hears often enough. I remember a friend of mine had an African Grey that could mimic the sound of his old analog dial phone ringing. While it was cute at first it quickly became annoying if you spent very much time with the bird.

For the most part, cockatiels can live in complete harmony in just about any community environment. There are exceptions but generally, cockatiels are low volume and usually only "speak" or mimic when they are first awakened or seeking attention for food or affection from their owners.

Talking abilities

No parrot really talks, rather they mimic what they have heard enough and are able to mimic. A bird can not carry on a conversation with a human. Although some of the best talkers of the parrot species can do a really impressive job of making it appear as they can. I once knew a friend that had an Eclectus that could sing "I want to be a cowboy" by Kid Rock and did it so well if he had a band playing the musical part you would swear it was Kid Rock singing the song himself.

The bigger the parrot the better it will be able to mimic. The African Grey, Eclectus, and Amazon parrots are the best at talking. They have the best clarity to their voices if you will than any other breed of parrots. A cockatiel can do an excellent job of mimicking too. Although their voice tends to be a lot more rough or scratchy than the bigger parrots, they are easily understood at what they do master in mimicking.

Now one should also keep in mind that not all cockatiels will mimic. Most will to some extent, but not all will. It is common for the bird to say "Hello" or other small phrases, but it is also common for them to never utter a discernable word. If having a talking bird is the prime goal you might consider a larger parrot before getting a cockatiel.

One thing to note is that it seems that hand fed cockatiels are more likely to talk than the parent fed ones. I guess this would all stem back to the early human intervention in their young lives and their willingness to adapt to pleasing the human they are most in contact with.

Good personality

As a rule, cockatiels are very well behaved when handled or when left alone for long periods of time. While any bird will bite or nip at you if they feel threatened, it is rare for a cockatiel to display such aggression. As mentioned earlier in this article cockatiels are most often willing to cuddle with their human partners and actually crave this kind of attention in some cases.

They are also very good with children. The only problem with cockatiels and children is that often children do not realize how fragile the bird is and can often hurt them very badly or even kill them if handled too roughly.

Cockatiels are rarely moody or quick-tempered. They will bite as any bird will when they feel threatened or defensive, but they bite for the most part is harmless. I suppose to a small child it may hurt a little more but to most all adults the fear of being bitten will be worse than the bite should you ever be bitten by one.

Compact in size

One of the biggest advantages of owning a cockatiel first is the low cost of housing them and their upkeep. Since they usually no bigger than the average man's fist even a small to medium size cage is enough room for them to live in. This, in turn, translates into a smaller footprint of the cage size being needed for placement in the home. For many new owners, this part of ownership doesn't dawn on them until they get the bird home and find out you have to put the cage somewhere.

Of course being a smaller bird means they eat less and drink less water. This, in turn, means they make less mess with their food and water. Yet another plus to the neophyte bird owner. The big parrots have large appetites and often meticulous ones and they will definitely make a bigger mess with their food and water.

Summary

I would have to say that out of all of the parrots I believe the cockatiel to be the most widely accepted as new bird owners first parrot. Add to that they even make a good "upgrade" so to speak for the budgie and parakeet owners. There are pros and cons to any species of bird but for the most part, the pros far outweigh the cons when it comes to cockatiel ownership.

Parrots have been kept in captivity for a long time but only the parakeet and cockatiel have adapted to it so well. The bigger parrots many of them are caught out in the wild and can be very troublesome to deal with for a long time and possibly the whole time you have them. Cockatiels even the parent fed ones are the absolute easiest to get along with of the parrot species. I highly recommend a cockatiel to any bird owner or especially to the first time parrot owner.

By Rick Roberts - Article Source: EzineArticles

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The LUTINO COCKATIEL (Nymphicus Hollandicus)

Cockatiel Parakeet (Nymphicus hollandicus). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Lutino Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) is one of the relatively recent color variants of the parrot known as the Cockatiel. 

The original Cockatiel is native to Australia, and the Lutino hails from Florida where it was bred by a lady known as Mrs. Moon. Because of her name the birds, which came onto the scene in the 1950s, were first called Moonbeams. They rapidly became the most popular color of the Cockatiel with their bright yellow color and absence of dark contrast except for the stunning orange cheek. There are other color forms such as the cinnamon, white-faced silver, and pure white albino, but none come close to challenging the popularity of the Lutino.

Another special feature of the Lutino is that they have red eyes rather than the normal dark color. Some breeders decide to mix it up, and they breed Lutinos with the pearl, pied, cinnamon and whiteface mutations. As beautiful as these birds are they are prone to having a bald patch on their heads.

These birds like to eat smaller cereal seeds, with some sunflower mixed in, and green food and fruits. In terms of housing, you can keep multiple specimens in an aviary or a single pet bird. If you decide to breed them you will need to get a nestbox, and funnily enough, they will actually breed better if they are housed separately. Do watch out for chicks being feather plucked though, you should remove them as soon as they can feed themselves.

And lastly, remember that these fine tropical pets live to up to 18 years so buying one is a long-term commitment.

By Danny Oakes - Article Source: EzineArticles

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Keeping Cockatiels in an Aviary

Cockatiel - Photo  by        Susanne Malsbender

Cockatiels are great aviary birds. They are very good-looking and do not squawk a lot or make a lot of noise.

When planning an aviary you will want to think about the construction intelligently. If your bird sanctuary outside does not place it too near the road because the cockatiels could get stolen.

Choose a sheltered location for your bird sanctuary. It must be shielded from the wind, and be in a reasonably sunny location with not too many trees that can shed leaves in the coop. Waste from wild birds in the trees may pollute your aviary, or sticks could fall away and damage the bird sanctuary.

A good place for an aviary is at the perimeter of a segment of grass, as using this method you can lie on the grass and take pleasure in watching the cockatiels. Be certain that the spot you select permits you to keep an eye on the birds from inside. You will then have the means to keep your eye on it for challenges like local community animals.

Providing your bird sanctuary is in a well-protected location you will discover you don't require much artificial lighting or heating. It's a beneficial move to always use natural light where you possibly can although some people like to make a visual show of the cockatiels in the aviary. Leaving space for an extension is additionally a great idea as you may wish to add more birds at a later date.

When you are deciding on the size of your aviary, you will have to decide whether you want a breeding pair, or just a whole lot of cockatiels together. For more birds, you will need a bigger aviary. Cockatiel birds will enjoy a flight of 3.6 m or 12 ft in length, though slightly less will be adequate if you are lacking space. The height of the bird sanctuary should not be under 1.8 m so that you can procure easy access to clean the cage and catch the birds whenever you need to without the danger of scratching yourself. If you are tall in height, make the cage very high.

The bird sanctuary width is not such an important factor but experts endorse you keep the bird sanctuary to around 90 cm square for every breeding pair in the aviary.

When you are designing your aviary, you will need to decide on a flooring covering. Grass and stones are both really unsuitable, as they are difficult to clean and can harbor germs and parasites. A concrete floor that is slanted will work well in an aviary, but be certain that it is smooth so that no puddles of water end up on the floor that go stale. Paving stones additionally work well, as long as they are somewhat slanted for excess water to empty off. Ensure that you include a drainage hole for the water to run down.

Though an aviary is a lot of work to look after, the pleasures that you will take advantage of out of it as an enthusiastic bird owner will be well worth the effort.

Submitted by: Carmen Knox - Source: www.isnare.com

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Care of COCKATIELS - Have a Happy and Healthy Cockatiel

My cockatiel, Sunny under a blacklight. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

To tell the truth your cockatiel is hooked on seed. That is the sad truth.

A lot of cockatiel owners don't get what can be wrong with feeding your cockatiel with too many seeds. Mainly because we were born knowing that birds eat seeds.

This is not right.

But the really sad thing about this belief, that it kills thousands of different cockatiels around the United States and in fact all around the globe.

The worst thing about seeding your bird with only seeds is that seeds lack all the minerals and vitamins that your cockatiel needs, so as a result of that your cockatiel becomes malnourished, which may lead to illness or even death of your cockatiel.

And if you're like most of the pet owners, this is not a life you wish your cockatiel to have.

The thing is that a lot of cockatiel owners overlook this fact mostly because they don't know that what they are doing is wrong. But the thing is that healthy diet should be your number one priority as a cockatiel owner. Neglecting this might cause your cockatiel to die at its 4th - 5th year of life.

But what else there is if you can't feed your cockatiel with seeds?

Pellets.

Pellets have every single nutrient that your bird needs even though they are manufactured. Pre

And because of to it, you will have a happy, healthy cockatiel. Pretty simple, right?

Actually, no...

Even though pellets are an important part of the daily cockatiel's diet, it shouldn't be the only thing that you feed your bird. Fruits and vegetables are always a great choice as an additional food for your cockatiel's diet.

Ok, so we have number one factor to have a healthy and happy cockatiel. Then what's the factor number two?

Sleep.

Your cockatiel needs at least ten to twelve hours of sleep every night to be a healthy bird. If you neglect this point, it will get cranky, depressed and might get sick.

By Ryan Hudson - Article Source: EzineArticles

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COCKATIELS Are People Too

Photo  by włodi 

Owning a cockatiel is not something that I ever thought would interest me. I am a dog lover. In fact, I will go out of my way to pet a dog. But not a cockatiel. Until...

A time came when I moved into an apartment that did not allow dogs, which was fine because I didn't have one at the time. But, it just so happened that a friend of mine had a cockatiel that he needs to give to someone who had time to take care of it. So I graciously took my new companion just to have some kind of a pet. Was I ever in for a surprise.

I didn't really know much about them, but I figured that a bird was a bird. Not at all true. There are some, like cockatiels, that are very drawn to human beings and make excellent pets, as well as friends. They are so full of personality that you can actually develop a personal relationship with them.

My cockatiel's name is Miss Birdie. I know, not really original, but if you knew her you would agree it fits. She is very much a "miss priss". She thinks she is the cat's meow (oops, bad choice of words).

She likes to ask a lot of questions. When I'm doing something she is not used to seeing, she will start to inquire as to what's going on. When I go into a different room she will call out to see where I am. If she sees me eating, she figures it's time for her to eat, too. If I turn off my computer, she knows it must be time for bed, so she will station herself on the appropriate nighttime perch and give me her little goodnight talk.

If I sneak up on her in the dark, she will hiss at me as a warning. She loves to 'duke it out' when I playfully thump her beak. She fights back as if she has a chance to take me. She will lower her head, step back and forth on her feet and flare out her wings to make herself look bigger. After a little tussle like that, we make amends while I lightly stroke the side of her head (over the ear coverlets) or flick her crown. They seem to find that very stimulating.

She loves to sit on my shoulder while I'm working at my computer. She makes this little purring sound like a kitten (oops, I did it again - good thing she's not here now). Occasionally I will secure the room and let her fly around. She loves a good workout. If I don't do that for a while, she will flap her wings briskly in her cage to work up a good heart rate. My bird gets more exercise than I do. I guess she's smarter than me.

I do have a couple dogs now and they find her to be as interesting as I do and vice-versa. When she goes to flapping her wings for exercise, they will bark and cheer her on. When they start barking because they want to go outside, she will jump in and cheer them on.

Cockatiels can live nearly 20 years. I hope mine outlives me because I couldn't imagine life without my bird. She is family.

By Michael Russell - Article Source: EzineArticles

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Interesting Facts on COCKATIEL Mutations

Our ruby-eyed Cockatiel (fallow mutation) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Over the past fifty years or so, breeders around the world have managed to make wonderful color mutations from normal grey cockatiels.

Some breeders spend their lives experimenting and trying to get the next beautiful color variation. Unlike some other bird species, cockatiels cannot be interbred. They are unique birds and only breed within their own species.

The most common varieties of cockatiel include normal, cinnamon, white-faced, Lutino, Albino, dominant silver and Pearl. There is no record of a color mutation in a cockatiel every occurring in the wild. This art was developed by breeders of the bird.

The Normal Grey

This is the natural form of a cockatiel and is the most common variety that we all know today.

Cinnamon

This mutation was established in Belgium in the late 1960's. Cinnamons can vary widely in their shade of color and the adult cocks tend to be darker. The legs and eyes are of a lighter shade than that of the normal grey cockatiel. Cinnamon cockatiels are recognized by a warm brownish tinge in their plumage.

Fallow

The fallow cockatiel made its first appearance in Florida in 1971. Fallows have red eyes and a grayish yellow body coloration that distinguishes them from cinnamon. The depth of color does vary and the cocks are darker than the hens.

Dominant Silver

The dominant silver is the most recent cockatiel mutation and emerged from the UK. The first one recorded was seen in a pet shop in 1979. This mutation was successfully developed more with careful inbreeding.

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Pearl

The pearl cockatiel was first bred in 1967 in West Germany. These cockatiels have white markings on their backs and wings in various patterns. Some have more white than others. The markings are often scalloped and look like lace patterning on the cockatiel's back.

Lutino

The lutino cockatiel is the most popular cockatiel mutation. The lutino originated in 1958 with a Florida breeder. The early lutino's sold for a fortune, but nowadays they are almost as common as the greys. Lutino's often used to be referred to as albino, until the true albino emerged, which was pure white with no yellow coloration. A genetic flaw associated with the lutino is a bald patch on the top of its head. Breeders should not pair these together, or the bald patch will become widespread among their breeding cockatiels.

Pied

Pieds are the oldest of the cockatiel mutations. They were being bred in California as long ago as 1949. These cockatiels have a mixture of dark and light feathers. The variations are endless here, with the lighter mutations being the most attractive.

Recessive Silver

These cockatiels were first recorded in New Zealand in the early 1950's, but this strain was never established until the sixties. The eye coloration is red, and this is what distinguishes them from the dominant silver. In the earlier mutations, there was a problem with blindness which has since been overcome, but this species type remains rare.

White Faced

This mutation was first recorded in Holland in 1969. The yellow and orange faces are absent in this mutation, and this mutation paved the way for the albino mutation. Lots of different mutations have come out of the white-faced cockatiel, including the pearl and cinnamon forms.

Albino

This is the newest and most prized variation. They are pure white and are proving very popular.

Other Variations

Other variations have been recorded from time to time over the years, but none have been established. The next achievement will be a totally black cockatiel. No matter what, the popularity of owning cockatiels is only going to keep getting stronger in the future.

By Michel Maling Michel Maling has enjoyed owning cockatiels all her life. I have dedicated this blog to cover all you need to know about cockatiels. http://cockatielsaspets.com Article Source: EzineArticles

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COCKATIELS and BIRD SHOWS

Why not try entering your cockatiel in a bird show. This can be a great experience for both you and your bird.

Cockatiel yawning (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The first thing that you will need to do is contact your local bird club and see what is on offer. Do they have someone on hand to show someone new the ropes when showing their cockatiels? You should visit a bird show first and see what types of birds get first prizes. Ask for advice on training your cockatiel for these types of events.

To find out what is happening in your area, you should find plenty of information at your local pet shops or vets. Your best bet would be to contact the organizers of the show and ask them for a catalog. You may need accommodation details if you are an out of towner. When looking through the catalog make a special note of the time that the categories that you want to enter start, as late entries are not usually accepted.

The show catalog also lets you know what the classes are that will be judged and what the rewards will be. Make sure that you fill in the forms correctly and enter your cockatiel in the right category, or you could be disqualified.

There are various standards that are expected when showing your bird. The most common standards used today are ACS Standards and NCS Standards. The judges judge against these standards, so it is a good idea to know what they are looking for. Both standards have a point system and a visual system that are marked.

Once you know what the judges expect, you can start grooming and training your cockatiel. You need to have a cockatiel that shows grace under pressure. Your cockatiel must be able to withstand the pressure of lots of people around and adjust to lots of strangers tapping on his cage. A good show cage will be needed in order to showcase your cockatiel. The show cage must be in maculate condition and most importantly, clean. Let your cockatiel get used to the cage before the day of the show, and encourage it to sit on the perch and be as still as possible. This type of training can prove challenging with active cockatiels. Try having some friends over for a fake bird show to get your bird used to lots of strangers.

Before entering your cockatiel in a show, make sure he is fully feathered. Your cockatiel should have no pin feathers visible. Wings and nails must be trimmed and feet and beak cleaned. If you regularly mist your cockatiel with clean warm water, it will encourage him to preen himself more often, which will make his feathers look wonderful.

Most importantly, when entering your cockatiel in a bird show, learn to be a good winner as well as a good loser.

By Michel Maling For more cockatiel food, visit http://cockatielsaspets.com. Article Source: EzineArticles

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PIED COCKATIEL - The First to Develop the Colorful Mutations of Cockatiels

Big and random bodily blotches these are the major characteristics in which the pied cockatiel is known for. This mutation is any color cropping up from solid cockatiel colors. Color quantity and placement differ a single bird to the other. The tint of cockatiels has been a result of the feather pattern changes, not a color change. These pied cockatiels are also called as pied tiel, variegated cockatiel and Harlequin cockatiel.

Pied Cockatiel - Photo: Wikipedia 

The pied upshot in cockatiel actually is a large mixture of colors in blotches or patches, such as permutation of whites and greys among grey cockatiels or a blend of yellow and cinnamon on the cinnamon cockatiels. Some stunning birds show a perfect balance of these blotches although it is not always achieved when breeding cockatiels. As a result, the variation of patterns makes it hard to determine between the sexes of a pied cockatiel.

The record of this cockatiel mutation is indistinct although it has been established that it was done in California. After the death of the first mutation developer, his stock was acquired by a certain Mr. Hubbell who continued the breeding program until today. Chances are that when you had a pied cockatiel, it comes from the continued mutation which was originally from California.

The pied cockatiel was initially developed by breeders so basically these birds did not come from the wilderness or anywhere. The grey ones are seen among the areas of Australia excluding the Tasmania and Australia's coasts. As a Cacatuidae family member, they have generally crests. These crests can go erect when these birds are agitated and enthused. Conversely, their crests level goes down significantly when they are angry or defensive.

The genes which have created the pattern in every cockatiel give no significant effect on the bird's coloring. However, the color distribution is the one that is affected. Pied cockatiels have major combinations of grays and whites within a random pattern. These mutations can weigh to up to four ounces and more.

Making the pied cockatiel an ultimate desirable pet is because of their behavior ñ they are not loud unlike other parrot species which are not only noisy but also are annoying. You can leave it alone it its cage or location for some time without their behavior being affected negatively. These species are steadfast and affectionate. Likewise, they love to play with toys and to climb perches which you have provided in their cage.

By Sara Looper - Sara Looper is a cockatiels expert. - Article Source: EzineArticles

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