How Much Does a Cockatiel Cost? (Based on Types)

A cockatiel is a type of parrot that originated in Australia. This smallest member of the cockatoo family is known as one of the most popular household pet birds, other than parakeets, canaries, and lovebirds.

If you are looking to get one of these lovely birds as a companion, you may be wondering, “How much does a cockatiel cost?”. To answer your question: the price of a cockatiel is not fixed and depends on several factors, but its common range is around $60-$300.

To give you an idea, here’s a brief summary table.

Cost of Cockatiels

The first thing you should know is how expensive are cockatiels. The other expenses that come with having a pet will be discussed in the following sections. For now, we’ll focus on the price range of all cockatiel types.

1. Types of Cockatiels

1. Grey cockatiel (Common name: Normal Grey, Wild Cockatiel)

Unlike other types of cockatiels, a normal gray can be found in the wild. It’s the original kind of cockatiel before the other color mutations existed. As this species is not a product of selective breeding, it’s quite affordable, costing only $60 to $80.

Grey cockatiels have predominantly grey feathers all over their bodies, yellow on the face and crest, and a round patch of orange on the cheeks.

 

2. Lutino cockatiel (Common name: Lutino Tiel, Moonbeam cockatiel)

The lutino cockatiel’s appearance is a product of selective breeding—it’s the second type of variation that came out after the Pied cockatiel. The average price tag of a lutino tiel is $150 to $250, with birds sporting rare color mutations being more expensive.

These birds have predominantly white feathers. However, their head has a distinct vibrant yellow shade and two patches of orange cheeks.

 

3. Cinnamon cockatiel (Common name: Isabelle cockatiel, Cinnamon Teil)

The cinnamon cockatiel’s color is a result of sex-lined mutation and recessive genes among birds that were bred in cages. That said, they still retain some distinct characteristics of a gray cockatiel, such as a yellow face with two pale orange cheeks.

To get one of these unique-colored birds, you’ll have to pay $130 to $160.

 

4. Pied cockatiel (Common name: Pied Tiel, Harlequin Cockatiel)

The first one that breeders were able to produce in 1951, the pied cockatiel is one of the most common and well-loved color mutations today. Compared to other variations, its price tag is pretty affordable, around $110 to $170 per bird.

Pied cockatiels have patches or blotches of different colors all over their body. Some of them have the original grey color with scattered irregular white patches from the head to the wings and underparts.

 

5. Pearl cockatiel

This is a unique type of mutation on cockatiels that produces white spots that look like “pearls” scattered all over the grey feathers on the body, wings, and head. Pearl cockatiels have a yellow head with white spots and the usual orange cheeks of most cockatiel species.

Although they are becoming increasingly more common, pearl cockatiels are still considered to be pretty rare. So don’t expect this bird to be cheap, bringing one home will set you back $150 to $200.

 

6. White cockatiel (Common name: White-faced Cockatiel)

This type of cockatiel was also bred in captive birds and was the 7^th mutation to be established among the cockatiel family. It is a very well-loved type because of its unique appearance of a gray body, and a white face with no orange patches on the cheeks.

White cockatiels are the rarest among its family. They’re so rare that you may not find them in common pet stores. Instead, you’ll have to find specialized breeders for one, which cost up to $200-$300.

 

7. Blue cockatiel

This variety is another rare mutation that could appear; that’s why they come with a heftier price compared to most other members of its family. To bring a blue cockatiel home, you’ll need to have a budget of $100-$300.

The blue cockatiel has white feathers all over from head to rump with blue coloring on the tail. They also lack the orange spots on the cheek.

 

2. Supplies Cost

Aside from the one-off cost of a cockatiel, one should also consider supply expenses, such as a cage, food, and toys. Here is a summary of the average price that you should expect to pay for the initial expenses of getting a pet.

3. Other Expense

It is also important to anticipate other expenses during the course of taking care of your pet. An initial check-up with the vet is necessary if you want to make sure that the cockatiel you bought is healthy.

Below is a cost table of other expenses that you should consider being prepared for when you have a pet parrot such as a cockatiel.

Factors Influencing Cockatiel Price

1. Type of Breed

As discussed in the first section, there are different breeds of cockatiels and this dictates much of the cockatiel parrot price. The more common ones, such as the gray cockatiels, are cheaper, and the rarer ones are more expensive.

2. Age

The age of the cockatiel will also influence the price. Younger cockatiels are much more expensive than older ones. Getting one that has been recently weaned from its parent will cost more compared to getting one that is already an adult.

3. Breeder

The breeder and their location will also impact the price. It’s much cheaper to get cockatiels in Australia because they are native to the country. A reliable breeder will also demand a higher budget, but they’ll make sure the bird is healthy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do cockatiels make good pets?

Cockatiels are more affordable compared to other parrot species and are a good choice for pets when you are new to having birds in your home.

Related: List of talking parrot costs here – Latest price

They have great personalities and can easily bond with their owners. You can also get a pair to keep your bird from getting lonely. They are easy to take care of and do not take up much space since they are relatively small.

Can cockatiels talk?

Female cockatiels cannot talk but are more into producing and mimicking calls and vocalizations, such as whistling. Males can be taught to talk but not as much as other parrot species.

What is the lifespan of cockatiels?

Cockatiels have a long lifespan when they are in caring homes. They can live for as long as 15-25 years. If you want a bird that can accompany you throughout the years, get a grey cockatiel, which is the most resilient among its family.

What is the cheapest cockatiel?

The cheapest type of cockatiel is the grey variety since they are very common. These are the original ones, first bred in the wild habitats of Australia. This type of cockatiel’s price is as low as $60-$80.

How to get a free cockatiel?

The only you can get a cockatiel for free is when you get it as a gift from a friend or family member. Even adopting one from shelters will incur a fee or a donation fee.
How much is a cockatiel at PetSmart?

If you’re buying a cockatiel at PetSmart, then expect to pay around $100-$150, depending also on the type of cockatiel and color mutation.

How much does a pink cockatiel cost?

There’s no such thing as a pink cockatiel – you may have confused it with the Galah cockatoo. While this bird is in the same cockatoo family as cockatiel, it belongs to a different genus.

Although the beautiful rosy colors of these birds are entirely natural, a Galah cockatoo isn’t cheap. One will set you back $2500 to $3500.

Conclusion

If you’ve gotten this far into reading the article you already know the answer to the question: how much does a cockatiel cost? You now have a solid idea of how much you should budget for the initial cost of getting a pet cockatiel.

Cockatiels make good pets and they bond well with humans. The happiness they will bring you will make every dollar you spend on them worth it. It is up to you to decide what kind of cockatiel you want.

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