The Normal or Native Cockatiel

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.

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