Salmon-crested Cockatoo vs Cockatiel

Cacatua moluccensis compared with Nymphicus hollandicus

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Side-by-side Comparison Table ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Salmon-crested Cockatoo Cockatiel
Scientific Name Cacatua moluccensis Nymphicus hollandicus
Order Psittaciformes Psittaciformes
Family Cacatuidae Cacatuidae
Conservation Status Endangered Least Concern
Length 32.0 cm (12.6 in)
Wingspan 58.8 cm (23.1 in) 40.0 cm (15.7 in)
Weight 835.0 g (29.45 oz) 90.0 g (3.17 oz)
Diet -- Seeds, grain, berries, and plant material. Forages on the ground in open areas. In captivity, …
Clutch Size 1-3 1-7
Population Trend
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Visual Size Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Size Comparison

Body Length
Salmon-crested Cockatoo
Cockatiel 32.0 cm
Wingspan
Salmon-crested Cockatoo 58.8 cm
Cockatiel 40.0 cm
Weight
Salmon-crested Cockatoo 835.0 g
Cockatiel 90.0 g
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Habitat Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Salmon-crested Cockatoo only

None

Cockatiel only

None

Cockatiel

Open arid and semi-arid habitats including scrubland, farmland, and woodland near water in Australia.

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Song & Call Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Song & Call Comparison

Salmon-crested Cockatoo

Cockatiel

Song

A loud, whistled 'weet' or 'weeeet'. Males whistle a melodic series; contact call is a high nasal 'ny'. Capable of mimicry in captivity. Song is relatively simple but pleasant.

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Geographic Range & Migration ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Geographic Range & Migration

Salmon-crested Cockatoo

Cockatiel

Interior of Australia, generally avoiding coastal areas. The second most popular pet bird worldwide.

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Conservation Status Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Conservation Status

Endangered

Salmon-crested Cockatoo

Least Concern

Cockatiel

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

How to Tell Them Apart

Salmon-crested Cockatoo

Cockatiel

Plumage

Wild-type males are grey with white wing patches, a yellow face, and bright orange cheek patches. Females are duller with barred tail undersides. Many captive color mutations exist.

Bill

Short, curved, grey bill

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ About Each Bird (Descriptions) ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

About These Birds

Cockatiel

The cockatiel is the smallest member of the cockatoo family and one of the most popular pet birds globally. These gentle, intelligent parrots can learn to whistle tunes and mimic sounds. Wild cockatiels are nomadic, traveling in flocks following food and water availability across the Australian outback.

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Related Comparisons ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Related Comparisons

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ More Birds in Family ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

More Birds to Explore

Explore the Nature FYI Family