The Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus), also known as the quarrion and the weiro, is a member of the cockatoo family endemic to Australia. Cockatiels have a special place in my heart as they were the first bird I had as a pet and it was my love for them that led me to learn more about them and ultimately led to me being a conservationist. It will always be a magical experience for me to see them in the wild!
These photos were taken along Mosquito Creek Road which is near Lake Coolmunda, about 4 hours drive from Brisbane.
They have a large range covering most of Australia but seeing them is harder than you may think as they prefer remote grassy bushlands and they blend in well if they are on the ground foraging. Mosquito Creek Road and Bowra Station (blue dots) are 2 easy places to find them. I recommend searching on eBird since they are so widespread and there is bound to be a place within a reasonable drive from most cities in Australia.
LEARN MORE ABOUT COCKATIELS
VIDEOS
Any search through Youtube will find 1000’s of pet cockatiel videos so I had to search for the wild cockatiel clips. I found some good ones showing wild cockatiels going about their daily life in the bush.
I wish I could see this many all at once!
Mini doco with good basic info but be advised that some photos are pet mutation cockatiels, not the wild ones though they also have wild cockatiel pics.