Communication & Social Behavior in Cockatiels

Part I - The Cock's Song

Copyright 1989 by Elizabeth V. Vaughan
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In cockatiels, one of the most noticeable forms of audible communication is the cock's song. This can vary from just a few notes to an elaborate succession of musical phrases which can be quiet complex, both melodically and rhythmically. Song is used not only to impress a desirable hen, but also to achieve higher rank in the community pecking order. A good song will win many cock admirers, and thus is a sure way for a new bird to gain respect in a short order.

The dynamics (softness or loudness) of the cock's song vary according to its purpose. In the courting ritual, it can be quiet loud in the beginning, accompanied by all the other physical manifestations of breeding behavior. Later, when bonding has been actualized, the song may take on a softer, more romantic quality. When eggs or babies are present, it will become even softer and more irresistibly sweet.

The most impressive of songs is that of the cock asserting his macho self (cockiness) around other males. I have seen cocks with very good songs back off completely when a better songster is present. Quality is judged by loudness, variety and endurance. There is always a chief songster whom I call The Meistersinger. He not only has the best song, according to the other males, but he has all the other cocks' songs mastered and can perform them better than the original composers can. He will create an elaborate composite of all the cocks' songs, which will then become the community song. Another cock may initiate this song, but when The Meistersinger joins in, the first cock will oftentimes cease in order to listen to the Maestro.

The cock's song is also used to hail the rising of the sun, or, in a more minor form, to express delight at such times as my coming home from work, or in answer of my effusive praises of their beauty or virility. When settling down for the evening, the community is led into the evening program by the "Pinehurst Cock Choir". This usually begins with a short, sharp song/signal from The Meistersinger (or sometimes another good singer) that the community drumming is about to begin. There is no other purpose for that song/signal. Drumming (or tapping as it is usually called) occurs when the cock makes a rapid succession of beats with his beak against a cage bar, perch, food dish or whatever else is handy. Each cock will participate in turn. This can get very interesting indeed! This session may or may not be followed by a solo or two performed by The Meistersinger, or any cock who wishes to sing. Best of all is the performance of the entire cock choir singing in unison. You know I am totally hooked on these creatures when I prefer to hear them over a Bach cantata! The evening program ends with the contented sound of all cocks and hens grinding their beaks before settling down for the evening.

A baby cock will start to develop singing ability at approximately twelve weeks of age when he begins to mimic the songs of the other cocks. By the time he has gone through his first major molt and has obtained his adult coloring at about six months of age, his voice is usually pretty well developed.

A pet bird who is alone or with one other bird, i.e., not in a community situation, may develop a song similar to a human's whistle, rather than the natural song which has a louder, throatier quality. I recently adopted a bonded pair who lived with the same people for five years, with no other birds ever present. The cock whistles Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture and the French National Anthem. He has not yet attempted to sing cockatiel-style, nor have my other cocks tried to imitate him. It has only been two months since I obtained the pair, so time will tell if those monuments of human civilization are ever incorporated into the community song. I have my doubts.

Although hens do express themselves vocally, for the most part they do no develop song. I came across one exception however. A young cinnamon who was about six months of age when I acquired her, learned to imitate the cocks' songs very well indeed. So well, in fact, that I was sure she was a cock even though she failed to manifest any of the other male characteristics. As long as her singing continued, she was shunned by cock and hen alike. When she learned that her exceptional abilities were getting her nowhere, she silenced herself, and soon became accepted into the community. Then she found herself a mate! Sounds familiar, doesn't it?

In the next article I will elaborate on other forms of oral and silent communication, as I have observed them in my community of cockatiels.

(Liz Vaughn has an astute eye for observation. Her background includes a masters degree in counseling, although she was working in a different field when writing this article. At the time this series of articles was written, Liz was a charter member of the Boston Cockatiel Society and was their first vice president, advertising chairman, fundraising chairman, as well as an AFA co-delegate. She has previously served as an NCS State Coordinator for Massachusetts. Liz was also appointed as the Social Behavior Consultant for the Boston Cockatiel Society's bulletin.)

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