Cockatiel vs Wandering Albatross
Nymphicus hollandicus compared with Diomedea exulans
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Cockatiel | Wandering Albatross |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Nymphicus hollandicus | Diomedea exulans |
| Order | Psittaciformes | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Cacatuidae | Diomedeidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
| Length | 32.0 cm (12.6 in) | 117.0 cm (46.1 in) |
| Wingspan | 40.0 cm (15.7 in) | 320.0 cm (126.0 in) |
| Weight | 90.0 g (3.17 oz) | 9000.0 g (317.47 oz) |
| Diet | Seeds, grain, berries, and plant material. Forages on the ground in open areas. In captivity, … | Squid, fish, and crustaceans caught from the ocean surface, often at night. Follows fishing vessels … |
| Clutch Size | 1-7 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Cockatiel
Open arid and semi-arid habitats including scrubland, farmland, and woodland near water in Australia.
Wandering Albatross
Open ocean of the Southern Hemisphere. Breeds on remote sub-Antarctic islands. Spends years at sea between breeding attempts.
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.
Wandering Albatross
At nesting colonies emits a loud braying 'waaah' and guttural grunts. Silent at sea for most of the year. Courtship involves ritualized mutual bill-clapping and moaning calls.
Geographic Range & Migration
Cockatiel
Interior of Australia, generally avoiding coastal areas. The second most popular pet bird worldwide.
Wandering Albatross
Southern Ocean circumpolar, breeding on South Georgia, Crozet, Kerguelen, and other sub-Antarctic islands.
Conservation Status
Cockatiel
Wandering Albatross
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
Wandering Albatross
Adults are mostly white with black trailing edges to the wings. Juveniles are chocolate brown, whitening progressively over 5-10 years. Pink bill and pale feet.
Very large pink bill with a hooked tip and visible tubular nostrils
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.
Wandering Albatross
The wandering albatross has the largest wingspan of any living bird, reaching up to 3.5 meters. These oceanic nomads can circumnavigate the globe, covering over 120,000 km per year using dynamic soaring with minimal wing flapping. Pairs mate for life and may live over 60 years.