The Normal or Native Cockatiel is the bird that started it all. The
native Cockatiel or Nymphicus Hollandicus, as the scientists call it, is
a true blue Aussie bird. Its range of habitat is over most of mainland
Australia, excepting some coastal and subtropical areas, due to its
preference for the drier plain lands of Australia's interior.
These birds in their native habitat are very nomadic and have been
recorded to travel long distances in their quest for suitable water and
food supplies adjacent to nesting areas. They are a strong, straight
flier, this being an important fact to remember when designing aviaries,
length being the most critical factor so as to provide ample flight
exercise.
The adult male bird is a beautiful shade of dark grey with darker
grey, almost black, under the tail. He has a white wing bar extending
downwards from the shoulder across the wing coverts. His forehead,
crest, sides of the head and bib are a bright yellow and he is topped
off with a bright orange patch over the cheeks. All in all, a very
handsome bird.
The female is much the same, only she lacks in the vivid colours of
the male and supports a tail irregularity barred in yellow, also a
stripe or barring on the underside of the wing (unable to be seen unless
you either catch her and spread her wings or watch her while she is
flying). Although she is not as vivid in colour, she is by no means a
dull bird, as people describe them.
Immature birds appear as the female but change after their juvenile moult if they are male.
This is the Normal, the originator and it is to be remembered that
this bird is the closest link to the native birds still flying around
our Australian skies, and although the mutations are very nice, it is
very important to maintain a good stock of quality normals for
outcrossing etc. and just to admire.