Why Do Cockatiels Whistle? Decoding Every Tune

A researcher once hatched four cockatiel chicks and whistled a popular song, the Mickey Mouse Club March, near them fewer than five times a day. Three of the birds began to whistle the tune on their own by about 100 days old. They started by singing fragments and then joined them into the whole song. These little parrots are incredibly talented! So why do cockatiels whistle? Is it music, speech or a shout for help? Let's start with a quick decoder, then you will read more about it.

Follow this as a handy reference. Always read the whistle in conjunction with your bird's body and the situation.

Wild cockatiels live in social groups, or flocks, in Australia's dry open country. In the wild, calls are used to hold the group together and alert them to danger. A cockatiel at home still thinks this way. Your family is its flock and you are one of them.

This is why many cockatiels will start shouting for you when you are out of view. Bird experts call this a contact call. The bird is looking to see where you are. A simple reply from the next room will often bring it back into a state of calm.

Cockatiels are also most vocal at sunrise and sunset, similar to other types of parrots. However, a contented bird can start singing anytime!

Male cockatiels are the famous singers. They tend to sing long whistle songs to their favorite person, a toy or their own reflection. Some can become so excited about a mirror or a shiny vase that they sing to it for long periods.

Whistling is also possible for the females. They just tend to do it less. Males are also more likely to learn words, although cockatiels generally prefer whistling over talking.

Cockatiels are a naturally mimicking species. They learn whistles that they hear frequently, such as your whistle, a phone, the TV or a radio. Many acquire wolf whistles, theme songs and doorbell noises.

This copying is not done at random. Birds learn the sounds of their flock and fit in with it. If your cockatiel mimics your whistle, take it as a sign that it is "speaking your language" and keeping close to you. The birds in the above study often whistled the song right after being left alone. The researcher suggested they might use it to attract human attention.

The majority of whistling is a positive sign. However, there are a few patterns which should be examined more closely:

Yes, and it's a pretty nice way to bond. Choose one short tune and whistle it a couple of times throughout the day to your bird. Use the same tune each time. Reward your bird for any attempt. Some owners also play recorded whistle tracks. Be patient, it may take weeks. Many cockatiels also learn to whistle back on cue. Pair whistling with other cues your bird uses, such as the head bobbing you see in budgies, and you will slowly be able to pick up its entire "vocabulary".

Cockatiels whistle to communicate with their flock, to show off, to copy the sounds they enjoy, and sometimes out of boredom. Know the code, look for the crest and whistle back. To your cockatiel, that reply means you are part of the family.