Cockatiel

Cockatiels are widely recognized for their bright orange cheek patches, long tail feathers, and sociable, playful nature. Their strong affinity for human interaction has placed them among the most commonly kept companion parrots worldwide, being kept in an estimated 4.8 million US households as one of the top five most popular pet bird species. However, insufficient knowledge of their care contributes to one of the highest surrender rates among pet bird species.

Proper care requires regular social interaction with owners, as well as a suitable nutritionally appropriate diet, toy-based enrichment, annual veterinary check-ups and prompt attention when signs of illness or respiratory issues appear, perches of varying diameters, UV exposure, and about two hours of daily out-of-cage time. Due to many owners' unfamiliarity with these requirements, many cockatiels suffer chronic malnutrition and behavioral problems and are often relinquished to shelters within approximately 1.5 years of adoption.