Cockatiel vs Emu
Nymphicus hollandicus compared with Dromaius novaehollandiae
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Cockatiel | Emu |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Nymphicus hollandicus | Dromaius novaehollandiae |
| Order | Psittaciformes | Casuariiformes |
| Family | Cacatuidae | Dromaiidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | 32.0 cm (12.6 in) | 175.0 cm (68.9 in) |
| Wingspan | 40.0 cm (15.7 in) | 20.0 cm (7.9 in) |
| Weight | 90.0 g (3.17 oz) | 45000.0 g (1587.33 oz) |
| Diet | Seeds, grain, berries, and plant material. Forages on the ground in open areas. In captivity, … | Plants, seeds, fruits, flowers, and insects. Swallows large stones and charcoal to grind food in … |
| Clutch Size | 1-7 | 5-24 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Cockatiel
Open arid and semi-arid habitats including scrubland, farmland, and woodland near water in Australia.
Emu
Open grasslands, savanna woodlands, scrublands, and semi-arid plains across Australia. Avoids dense forest and true desert.
Song & Call Comparison
Cockatiel
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.
Emu
Deep, resonant booming grunt 'e-moo', often repeated 3 times. Females give a deep drumming call produced by an inflatable throat pouch. Generally low-pitched and far-carrying.
Geographic Range & Migration
Cockatiel
Interior of Australia, generally avoiding coastal areas. The second most popular pet bird worldwide.
Emu
Throughout mainland Australia. Absent from Tasmania, where the Tasmanian emu was driven to extinction by 1850.
Conservation Status
Cockatiel
Emu
How to Tell Them Apart
Cockatiel
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.
Short, curved, grey bill
Emu
Shaggy grey-brown plumage with double-shafted feathers giving a loose, hair-like appearance. Bare blue skin on the face and neck.
Broad, flat, dark grey bill
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.
Emu
The emu is the second-tallest living bird and the largest bird native to Australia. It is the only bird with calf muscles, enabling powerful running at up to 50 km/h. In the famous Emu War of 1932, the Australian military was deployed against crop-raiding emus — and the emus arguably won.