Cockatiel
The cockatiel (/ˌkɒkəˈtiːl/; Nymphicus hollandicus), also known as the weero/weiro or quarrion, is a medium-sized parrot that is a member of its own branch of the cockatoo family endemic to Australia. They are prized as household pets and companion parrots throughout the world and are relatively easy to breed compared to other parrots. As a caged bird, cockatiels are second in popularity only to the budgerigar.
| Cockatiel | |
|---|---|
| A male cockatiel. | |
| A female cockatiel. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Psittaciformes |
| Family: | Cacatuidae |
| Subfamily: | Nymphicinae |
| Genus: | Nymphicus Wagler, 1832 |
| Species: | N. hollandicus |
| Binomial name | |
| Nymphicus hollandicus (Kerr, 1792) | |
| Red: all-year resident | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Psittacus hollandicus Kerr, 1792 | |
The cockatiel is the only member of the genus Nymphicus. It was previously unclear whether the cockatiel is a crested parakeet or small cockatoo; however, more recent molecular studies have assigned it to its own subfamily, Nymphicinae. It is, therefore, now classified as the smallest subfamily of the Cacatuidae (cockatoo family). Cockatiels are native to Australia, favouring the Australian wetlands, scrublands, and bushlands.