Cockatiel owners tend to be pathological about their birds - for good reason! Cockatiels are beautiful birds coming in a few colors including white and grey. Cockatiels are slightly larger than parakeets and have a beautiful long tail and full, distinctive feathers on their head. They have a lifespan of about 15 years - so when you decide to buy one, make sure you're in it for the long-term. Cockatiels' personality is relatively calm and gentle, compared to some of the other small pet birds, such as the lovebird and finches. They also are reasonably good at talking, both a few words and short sentences. You'll notice that the cockatiel has many of the traditional parrot-like characteristics, but usually in a much smaller body and at a much lower cost. If you want a very unique and intelligent bird, but don't want a bird the size of a parrot, consider a cockatiel. If you're thinking about cockatiel breeding, do lots of research. This is sometimes difficult and often is better left to experienced and very well-informed individuals. Plus, it's not very lucrative. Just go out and buy a new pet cockatiel!