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Lutino Cockatiel

Lutino Tiel ~ Moonbeam Cockatiel

Family: CacatuidaeNymphicus hollandicusPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough

   The Lutino Cockatiel is a beautiful pet bird, with a mostly white to light-yellow body and orange cheek patches!

   The gorgeous Lutino Cockatiel was the second cockatiel mutation to be established, with the first being the Pied Cockatiel. Unlike the Pied however, the Lutino Cockatiel took the aviculture world by storm. It became an immediate hit because it was so like a miniature white Cockatoo with a pale yellow breast and almost white body, tail, and wings.The head and crest are a primrose yellow and both sexes have bright orange cheek patches and red eyes. This was like the story of the ugly duckling turning into a beautiful swan.

   All Lutino Cockatiels are descended from one single male cockatiel. This bird was owned by a Mr. Cliff Barringer of Florida, USA. Mr. Barringer had bred 14 normal offspring from his pair of what appeared to be normal Grey Cockatiels. It was in a nest of two of these youngsters, in 1958, that he was surprised with a baby with pink eyes. It did take another two years for Mr. Barringer to mate a female lutino daughter back to the father to produce the first male lutino. Shortly after, much of Mr Barringer's stock was purchased by Mrs. E. L. Moon, once a curator of the Florida Parrot Jungle. She subsequently named her lutino offspring 'Moonbeams', and from here Lutino Cockatiel's spread throughout the world.

   Cockatiels are probably the most popular of the parrot family with their main competition being the Budgerigar (referred to as the Parakeet in the United States). They are hardy, easily handle changes in their home, and are easy to breed. On top of that, keeping a cockatiel as a pet is easy because they are not noisy parrots and they are comfortable when left alone for long periods of time.

   Cockatiel's evolved as nomadic creatures, surviving in a variety of diverse and rugged habitats. They are constantly on the move, changing locations with the seasonal fluctuations of food and water supplies. This native habitat and their adaptive behavior has made them well suited as pets.

For more information about the care of Cockatiels see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Cockatiel

Geographic Distribution Nymphicus hollandicus Data provided by GBIF.org Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Psittaciformes Family: Cacatuidae

Scientific Name   Nymphicus hollandicus

Distribution
   The Lutino Cockatiel is a strain developed by breeders and is not seen in the wild. Grey Cockatiels are found over most of Australia except the coastal areas and most of Tasmania. Tasmania, an island state of Australia, has many of the parrots found in Australia but the cockatiel is not present there. It is thought that though they are one of Australia's fastest flyers, their flying strength is apparently not sufficient to help them bridge the waterway that separates the island from the Australian mainland.

Description   Cockatiels are considered parrots, as can be seen by the shape of their beak. Cockatiels are probably the most popular of the parrot family. They are closely related to the Cockatoos, and like Cockatoos they are members of the Cacatuidae family.

   As members of the Cacatuidae family they too have an erectile crests. This cute little crest will be held erect when they are stimulated and excited, flattened when they are feeling angry, defensive, or submissive, and somewhere in between when they are in their normal 'hanging out' state. Unlike the other members of this family, however, they have long tails. The tail makes up about half of their total length and gives them more of a parakeet type appearance

   The Lutino Cockatiel is a spectacularly beautiful bird. It is yellow - white bird with bright orange cheek patches and red eyes. The lutino gene is known as a sex-linked recessive gene. It prevents the production of the black/gray colors, the 'melanin' pigment, that is found in a normal Grey Cockatiel. The Lutino Cockatiel can be readily combined with the pearl, pied, cinnamon and whiteface mutations to produce spectacularly colored varieties.

   The only negative trait to the Lutino's is that a bald patch can occur on the head just behind the crest. When these birds were first bred this was especially pronounced. Today, as a result of successful selective breeding practices, this trait is being greatly reduced and many specimens now have total feather coverage on the head.

   See descriptions of sexual differences for this pet bird cockatiel below, under the breeding cockatiels section.

Size - Weight   These birds get up to 12 inches (30 cm) and weigh 3 to 4 ounces.

Care and feeding
   Good sized bird cages are a must for good cockatiel care. A roomy cockatiel cage is required unless the bird is to be let out for extended periods. The cage for a cockatiel should measure a minimum of 24" length by 18" high and 18" wide. This will leave enough room for several toys and still give the bird room to fully stretch his/her wings without hitting them. Many birds can spend most of their time on a playpen or parrot perch. Bird food consists of a variety of sprouts, seeds, nuts, fruits, vegetables, and commercial pellets.

See About Cockatiels: Housing and About Cockatiels: Care and Feeding for more information.

Social Behaviors    Cockatiels travel in flocks in the wild and this influences cockatiel behavior in captivity. Their social 'flock' disposition along with their native habitat makes them well suited as pets. They are hardy, adapt easily to change, and are easy to breed. A big plus is that cockatiels are not noisy and can be left alone for long periods of time. They make a very loving and devoted pet if bonded properly.

   For taming cockatiels and cockatiel training, see About Cockatiels: Handling and Training.

Activities    Common bird activities for cockatiels, they like to climb and play. Cockatiel bird care includes providing lots of bird toys and excercise. Give them plenty of time outside the cage if possible, a playpen works well for this. Many cockatiels can learn to talk and whistle, especially the males.

   See About Cockatiels: Activities for more information.

Breeding/Reproduction
   Cockatiel breeding can be a very rewarding experience. Cockatiels will readily nest provided they have a nest box and some material to construct the nest from. They lay one egg every other day until they have laid about 5 eggs. The incubation period is 17 - 22 days. After hatching the young birds will open their eyes at 9 days of age.

   This is a good time to start hand feeding if you don't want to incubate the eggs yourself. Incubation and raising the chicks yourself requires dedication since the young chicks will need feedings every two hours for the first couple of weeks. Likewise, you can pull them from the nest earlier than 9 days, but with greater risk to the chick and greater effort on your part with frequent feedings. After about 18 days the orange cheek patch will appear on the babies. At about 30 days they will look like adult birds, and will fledge at about 35 days of age.

   For more information on cockatiel breeding, see About Cockatiels: Breeding/Reproduction.

Sexual differences    There are a lot of opinions about how to sex these birds but usually they are just indicators and not sure ways to tell. For Lutino Cockatiel, just like for common grey cockatiels, juveniles will have barring on the underside of the tail. This barring is lost with the male's first molt, generally at about 6 months. However, on the female the barring is retained, but it is It is very hard to distinguish mature cocks from hens because the barring can be quite faint. A DNA test will be your best bet to know what sex your pet is.

Potential Problems    The cockatiel health is easy to maintain as these are very hardy birds, but for all pet birds there are potential problems For optimum bird health care for your cockatiel, it is good to know what signs of illness to be aware of.

   For information about cockatiel health, see About Cockatiels: Problems.

Availability
   The Lutino Cockatiel is one of the readily available cockatiels for sale, but it is not as common as the Grey Cockatiel and is usually more expensive. There are also lots of other color mutations readily available including pearl, pied, cinnamon, and white-faced varieties.

Author: Clarice Brough, CAS

Lastest Comments on Lutino Cockatiel View all 36 comments on Lutino Cockatiel Add Your Comment

Kawshik - 2011-10-23 Can I keep Cockatiel in wooden cage? Would they destroy a wooden cage like Lovebirds? Jasmine Brough Hinesley - 2011-10-23 I would recommend against it. Cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) beaks continue to grow and they need cuttle bones and other toys to keep them nice and trim. A wooden cage might last for a while, but they will probably be prone to chewing on it to help keep their beaks in shape. Charlie Roche - 2011-10-24 Sexing cockatiels --- The only way to accurately determine the sex of cockatiels 100% is through DNA sexing. However, many breeders get pretty accurate at determining the sex by appearance. Going from the eyes up the head and down to the neck, the females head is a smoth curve. The males head is not a smooth curve and feels/looks flatter. Much easier to see without feathers but you can see it and you can feel a slight definite slope (ridge) to the males head at the back of the top of the head. Look at the back of the cockatiels head - where that bare spot is and feel right there. The female pelvic bone is wider and sometimes you can feel this. Female is usually a little broader than the male. So humans might not be able to tell with 100% accuracy but hopefully they can. The Animal World article above in sexual difference also explains a barring of color. It is said that the male loses that barring of color under the tail when sexually mature - around 6 - 9 months. It is retained in the female. Hard to see. So lots of luck. Anonymous - 2011-10-24 Thanks for the information. Can you tell me how to identify the sex without DNA test? Is their any other way to identify male or female? Because in Bangladesh we dont have any pet clinic where we can test the DNA. francesg - 2011-10-28 I just bought a white male cockatil to mate. How can I tell if it's a male. It haves two bones just like the girl. Sam - 2012-04-29 We paid $25 for a DNA tests. Look for specific bird shops and they should be able to send in a few feathers for testing. You get an official gender certificate in the mail. And their beaks should not rule out this amazing pet. We take ours in to the breeder every 8 weeks for nail trim and wing trim, and they can easily keep an eye on their beaks. Keeping an eye on it will prevent any major problems! These birds should live 25-40 years! Hope this info has helped. Reply

kai - 2009-02-07 hi im just wondering how mutch do lutinos cost Deb Shults-Brod - 2011-11-21 I paid $89.00 for my little guy this past summer. He was 4 months old when I got him. So sweet but sassy too. Charlie Roche - 2011-11-21 Cockatiels usually run about $25.00 if purchased directly from a breeder and big range of $50.00 - $100.00 if purchased in a pet store. The pet store costs more as they usually have to finish weaning the parrot and then they have to feed and house them until they are sold. Reply

mario - 2007-11-15 Hi, I just put a down payment on a Lutino Cockatiel. I don't have him or her at home yet because it is still a baby and is being hand fed. He or she is so sweet, and funny too. I am excited and can't wait until he or she is home with me. PS: I say he or she because I don't know its gender yet. Mario robbie - 2011-09-24 not easy to sex. but look under wings, if it has yellow spots its a hen. Reply

Kim - 2011-01-22 I bought my Lutino 8 years ago, and cannot hold her and she will not come out of her cage. When I tried to handle her she bit me very hard, even with gloves on, any suggestions on how to handle her? Editor's Note - 2011-01-22 Generally, it is easiest to tame cockatiels while they are juveniles (12-14 weeks of age). Because your cockatiel is older it may take a considerable amount of time and patience. You will want to spend some time with her every day - plan a time of day with few distractions and dedicate say half an hour just to her. Make sure her wings are clipped so that if she does fly away you can retrieve her fairly easily. Start by just trying to get her to step up on a stick or perch that you are holding - don't try to touch or pet her at first. Talk to her continuously to let her know you are her friend. Once it appears that she is getting comfortable with that and not immediately being aggressive towards you, you can attempt to start getting her to step up on your finger rather than a stick. Here are some general guidelines to help you with taming your cockatiel: Characteristics of Birds Lexi - 2011-08-10 You should start training her by approching her cage slowly on the side so she sees you coming. If she hisses stop but don't back away and then keep approching her. When you get to the cage slowly put your hand in but again going torwards her slowly then put your finger by her feet so she can step on and slowly take her out then spend time with her then put her away and repeat . But do this somewhere quiet . Lexi - 2011-08-10 You should start training her by approching her cage slowly on the side so she sees you coming. If she hisses stop but don't back away and then keep approching her when you get to the cage slowly put your hand in but again going torwards her slowly then put your finger by her feet so she can step on and slowly take her out then spend time with her then put her away and repeat . but do this somewhere quiet . julie - 2011-09-20 I have a lutino and a pearl. my lutino does bite too, however he has stopped here lately. I blow on him and get very close to him and say oh no you don't want to do that come on now and put my finger in front of him and my other hand close to his wing so he can't fly away and hold him close to my chest and walk to were I'm going to sit down and place him close to me and let him come to me while I ignore him. He will ease himself closer, then I say oh oh gooood boy and I have done this every day for a year or so and he has truly come around to being our friend. praying over them helps too, julie. Reply

Anonymous - 2010-05-04 Please help why is my cockatiel plucking out his feathers he is nearly bald? Julie - 2010-05-10 Cockatiels (particularly females) can develop this terrible habit. In some birds it is nerves, they are uncomfortable about something in their surroundings. In some birds it is lack of stimulation from friends, family, playmates etc. They are very social creatures and need companionship. In some, it is due to hormones - this is mostly the female birds. Of the four females I've owned, three plucked to some degree. If I were you, I would definitely find a knowledgeable avian vet and have your bird checked for mites or a skin condition. A good avian vet can give you suggestions for curbing the plucking. Sarah werner - 2010-09-14 Maybe give it some more toys to get his mind off it or some fresh leaves that are not toxic or if that does not work there is a bottle of liquid for sale called AVITROL FEATHER PLUCKING FORMULA and you spray it on the cockatiels back and they don't like the taste of it so they wont pluck themselves! Lexi - 2011-08-10 You might want to be careful if a bird is really stressed if can kill itself by plucking it's feathers Reply

Susan - 2011-07-28 I bought my cockatiel when he was a baby and last week he turned 22 years old! He is a sweet, affectionate boy and has only gotten more so with age. He looks like a young bird too- no signs of aging. Loves jazz music and singing and says his name-"Hello Louie!" I've had dogs, cats, rabbits, fish, rodents, you name it and Louie is the most low maintenance of them all. I feed him Harrisons Bird food, bird seed, and offer him pasta, egg, spinach, and nuts when we're eating those foods. Charlie Roche - 2011-07-28 Wonderful I am a bird nut so great. Reply

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