Loud chirps, the flapping of wings and maybe your cockatiel is hanging upside-down from its perch; these are all good signs your feathery friend recognizes you. But how does your pet cockatiel know it’s really you? This article aims to shed some light on that very question.

A cockatiel recognizes you the moment you enter the room. In fact, your avian chum already knew you were coming by the sound of your footfalls in the hallway. He or she might even go so far as to attack other family members in a protective gesture. That’s how much they know who you are and want to keep you safe.

Right off the bat, this bird is pretty, intelligent and if treated right highly affectionate. Like a dog or a cat, the cockatiel will use gestures to tell you what they want. Also, they will say ‘hi’ with enthusiastic chirrups and eager wing flapping when you approach them.

They are very much like us

At this point, you may be asking yourself what the author of this article is trying to say. For crying out loud: it’s a bird – pretty, yes, but still only a bird. They don’t differentiate between humans.

Any diehard ‘tiel lover will counter, “Hey! Wait a moment. They really do. He always chirps happily when I enter the room. My birdie loves me like crazy, but he hates my girlfriend. Every time she approaches the cage my ‘Captain Jack’ goes mad. He can’t stop hissing, and he always stands on one leg.”

Those are all signs that these birds can love one person’s presence but despise another’s. Well, you don’t like everybody either; there are people we immediately get along with and others we can’t stand to be around.

You need to know that your birdie’s behavior can be very versatile. They communicate amongst each other by squawking and through gestures.

Some of these sounds and gesticulations are quite clear and should also be recognized by us owners. It is how your feathery friend communicates with you.

How to tell if your cockatiel likes you:

• Plenty of whistling, singing chirping are the signs for a truly contented bird.
• If your bird does not back away from you when you approach.
• Keep an eye out for the crest of feathers on its head – lying back most of the times means that your bird is annoyed, half-cocked could mean that something caught the bird’s attention and fully erect points to agitation.

Having said that, other things may also impact the way this fluffy and colorful bird reacts. For one, have you thought of the color of your clothing? Cockatiels are known to respond to various colors. Or maybe it has to do with long sleeves.

If the bird is used to you wearing t-shirts, then perhaps stick with them when you want to bond with your pet bird.

One of the most important things for cockatiel owners to understand is the coming home ritual. Under no circumstances ignore the bird – you would not be able to ignore your dog because he or she is eagerly wagging its tail and jumping up and down beside you.

Unlike your furry friend, your feathery buddy does not have that luxury in the confines of its cage. So, don’t be surprised to be greeted by squawks and tweets that almost sound like shrill screaming.

It’s the bird’s way of saying “HEY! I am here also and I know it’s you. So come over and give me a hug.” And it gets worse when you have been gone all day.

Some Cockatiels scream all the time. This can be very annoying and it is not good for the bird either. In that case, it is very important that you find out what the problem is. Have a look at our article – 7 Reasons Why Your Cockatiel Is Screaming All The Time.

Cockatiels need others to be truly happy

If you still don’t believe it, leave your birdie alone in the room – it will only take moments, and the cockatiel will start calling out for you. So, make sure that your birdie is kept somewhere in your home close to where all of the action is because they are as companionable as cats or dogs

Better still get another bird. However, cockatiels are not really compatible with other birds like budgies. We explain why keeping budgies and cockatiels in the same cage can have bad consequences in this article.

The most important thing to remember is that they are no loners. Cockatiels are known to suffer from depression when left alone too often and for longer periods of time. It is just the way they are.

They are always a part of the action

We already said that these feathery critters are smart.

Well, think of this: Your pet cockatiel knows who everybody is in your household. Yes, that’s right. These tweeties love ‘stickybeaking.’ Have you ever wondered why there is a saying in England that goes: ‘Stop being a sticky beak.’

It means nothing other than ‘mind your own business.’ However, your cockatiel will never do that. A fully involved family chirper will comment with little tweets that sound like ‘oh!’ when you sneeze or maybe enter the room.

Also, when you are just about to indulge in a nice hot chocolate and read a book, your birdie might start moving up and down its perch while bowing its head. That is an invitation to stroke his or her plumage.

Your cockatiel is in the mood for some serious snuggling, and you better deliver the goods. Like any lover, they want their daily dose of TLC.

What makes the cockatiel such a love bug?

Cockatiels are incredibly sociable and very communicative birds. In their native Australia, they live in large swarms or maybe even a ‘craze’ because it’s so wild when hundreds flock around a body of water.

For this reason, it’s best to keep cockatiels at least as a couple. There is nothing better than watching two cockatiels play, eat, fly, sleep and crawl. They will also sing more often.

Yep, you guessed it: the boys love to sing a tuneful song to impress the ladies of the species. So, if you have two ‘tiels, one female, and one male, expect some real ‘Endless Love’ action in the image of Diana Ross and Lionel Richie.

Additionally, in this article we show you 7 facts that make Cockatiels so friendly! In fact, usually they are one of the most friendly pet birds you can get.

Cockatiels can get very attached to their owners

On that note, a cockatiel that is kept alone can rely far too heavily on its replacement partner, namely you.

This can often lead to behavioral problems such as feather plucking and squawking. (However, losing a lot of feathers doesn’t always have to be a bad thing – read our article here in case your Cockatiel is losing a lot of feathers.)

Anyway, the most important thing for us to know is that your cockatiel needs a lot of TLC. So they love to be stroked and yes, cuddled – that’s you taking the entire bird in your hand and gently rubbing its neck – if your Cockatiel allows that.

They will even make little purring sounds that tell you how much they like what you are doing. And again this depends on your bird.

You will be surprised at how quickly your birdie gets to know you and chirrups with joy the moment you enter the room. Remember, those same cheeps of delight can quickly turn to anger or frustration when you leave again.

Related Questions

Do cockatiels enjoy being petted?
This type of bird is very individual. While most cockatiels enjoy the attention, yours may not. Also, never force the bird. He or she will let you know when it’s time to get cozy.

Do cockatiels speak?
The cockatiel is a type of parrot and we all know that parrots like to chatter repetitively. Again, the answer very much depends on your birdie. Some cockatiels will respond to your words and sometimes songs and others simply will not.