Do cockatiels have a taste in music? Most owners would not think so, but have you ever heard a cockatiel chirp after hearing a certain instrument or song? Cockatiels definitely react to music. But, what kind of music do cockatiels like?
What Kind Of Music Do Cockatiels Like? Cockatiels preferred instruments, songs, and genres. Also, most cockatiels like classical music, light pop, and R&B. Each of these genres is known for its predictable beats, steady, and diverse range of sounds. Cockatiels like fun and upbeat songs, but they respond best to calming instrumentals or gentle vocals.
However, cockatiels dislike too loud, jarring, or intense melody. For this reason, while some cockatiels learn to enjoy rock and rap music, most of them don’t. You can introduce these genres only if the songs are slower and calmer than average. Electronic music and heavy metal are too intense, leaving the cockatiel overwhelmed and confused.
What Music Do Cockatiels Enjoy?
Like most birds, cockatiels enjoy music. They show their enjoyment by dancing to upbeat tunes and bobbing their heads along with the rhythm. You might even find your cockatiel mimicking your favorite song or whistling the base tune.
Also, most cockatiels enjoy a calm and comforting melody. However, cockatiels can be easily startled by loud or jarring noises or confused by an onslaught of sounds. That can make dubstep or heavy metal a poor choice for cockatiels.
Instead, most cockatiels like listening to soothing classical sounds, which tend to be simple and well resolved. From a musical perspective, the rhythm is not jarring and predictable.
However, some owners report piano or violin appearing to be a cockatiel-favorite. These instruments are soothing but still complex enough to interest the cockatiel.
What cockatiels appreciate most about their music is a diversity of sounds. Cockatiels can understand various aspects of music, such as melody and rhythm. In addition, they will enjoy instrumentals, vocals, and even different volumes that change up the song’s natural flow. A cockatiel registers this as an interesting new call from a fascinating new bird.
On the other hand, cockatiels like sound that acts as background noise. This will be reminiscent of them dwelling in a large flock, which can reach up to 100 cockatiels at a time in the wild. Therefore, listening to music makes a cockatiel feel comfortable and safe in the immersive auditory experience.
Do Cockatiels Understand Music Genres?
Cockatiels can not tell the difference between different genres, but they may like the diversity of different sounds. Like other birds, cockatiels have extraordinary hearing abilities.
In particular, cockatiels can distinguish between subtle differences in tone, accent, and rhythm. These abilities may be seen most readily in cockatiel’s singing and chirping behavior, which constitutes very complex sounds. However, it can also be seen in a cockatiel’s appreciation for music.
Each cockatiel may show unique musical preferences. It’s no different than how one cockatiel might pick up words from you while another mimics the doorbell. Each cockatiel will surprise itself with its range of sounds.
Do Cockatiels Like Pop Music?
Even though pop music is not serene, many cockatiels love listening to it. Anecdotal evidence tells us that pop melodies are one of their favorite genres. Unfortunately, there are no official studies about these issues.
Pop melodies have an engaging and repetitive beat that cockatiels can quickly grasp. Due to their inherent understanding of rhythm and meter, pop melodies cause cockatiels to bob their heads. This action effortlessly segues into dancing and eventually teaches them to love the song.
Like classical and pop music consists of easy-to-grasp melodies and predictable patterns. Your cockatiel’s ability to find ways in sound and vocalize them to other flock members comes in handy here. It can effectively accomplish the same thing with pop song sound patterns.
Do Cockatiels Like Rock Music?
Most cockatiels do not like to listen to rock music. It is generally too harsh, loud, and unpredictable for cockatiels to follow as a genre. This could even startle a cockatiel and disorient it, causing it to become anxious and scared. For these reasons, most cockatiels don’t listen to electronic melodies either.
But, of course, there are rare exceptions. Some cockatiels learn to enjoy the diverse range of sounds and the heavy rhythm. That is especially true if you have the best rock albums on repeat in your home. Then, the cockatiel might receive enough exposure to begin predicting their patterns.
However, the best choice is to avoid rock music, as it can stress them out
. If you want to train your cockatiel to like it, make sure to start with gentler songs and work up. Try to keep the volume low, so the cockatiel learns to recognize the music as calm and non-threatening, not as overwhelming.
Do Cockatiels Like Rap Music?
Cockatiels are vocal birds, meaning they can easily pick out and mimic the patterns in the sounds around them. So, for example, if you play rap music, they will try and copy that too.
However, a rap song that is too fast-paced and unpredictable may be difficult for a cockatiel to keep up with. It will then come across as a chaotic collection of sounds. Depending on the instrumentals, it may also be jarring a cockatiel, setting it on edge.
For this reason, it’s wise to choose raps songs for your cockatiel that are slower and smoother. You can even start with music closer to R&B, so the cockatiel can learn to adapt.
Comforting Music For Your Cockatiel
Due to their affinity for picking out predictable sound patterns in the environment, comforting music for cockatiels includes instrumentals and vocals. In addition, however, you can turn on piano instrumentals or some general tunes that are not too intense.
For a cockatiel, music is both fun to listen to and relaxing. Here are some benefits of playing comforting music for your cockatiel:
- Makes calm it down.
- Makes your cockatiel happier.
- It acts as a form of bonding between your cockatiel and yourself.
- It distracts its attention when you are not there.
- Increases social activity.
- It makes your cockatiel playful.
Do Cockatiels Like When You Sing To Them?
Cockatiels like it when their owners sing to them. That is because it mimics the natural behavior of cockatiels speaking to and entertaining each other in the wild. Cockatiels can even develop unique calls for one another and learn to recognize specific sounds from their favorite companions.
If you sing to your cockatiel, it will believe that you are addressing it specifically with a lovely noise that you find entertaining. Therefore, the cockatiel may try to learn this sound from you to entertain or compliment you.
In the wild, cockatiels ousted from their original flock will search out a new one and adapt to that new flock’s sounds. This allows the cockatiel to better integrate with its new family. With that in mind, a cockatiel will mimic your sound for the same reasons. In fact, this might be the main reason why cockatiels can mimic human sounds at all.
Can Cockatiels Sleep With Music?
Music can often be too immersive for your cockatiel and prevent it from sleeping. This is because cockatiels associate background noise with a lively and active flock during the day. However, cockatiels have thus adapted to prefer silence when they sleep at night, as this allows them to remain alert if predators are prowling nearby.
However, this case varies from cockatiel to cockatiel. Some of them may be capable of sleeping right through music, provided that it’s not loud enough to wake them.
But, if you want to listen to music during the night, keep the volume low. You can also drape a blanket over your cockatiel’s cage to dampen its exposure to the higher sound frequencies.
If your cockatiel appears fine and well-rested later, then continue like usual. But, if you find your cockatiel acting low-energy the next day or napping more frequently, you can switch to your headphones instead.
Why Does My Cockatiel Chirp To Music?
If you find your cockatiel chirping to your music, that is a good sign. It means that your cockatiel likes the music and expresses this feeling by mimicking the sound of vie chirps. Your cockatiel is having such a good time that it wants to learn the melody and entertain itself with the noise later.
Also, your cockatiel may even try to impress its cage-mates with the sound. Male cockatiels show off to females by chirping and singing. The more attractive a male’s chirps are, the more likely it is for a female cockatiel to be attached to it.
Moreover, male cockatiels often show off their intelligence to female cockatiels by mimicking complex sounds that they hear in their everyday environment. Usually, this is a piece of music that they have listened to.
Cockatiels And Loud Music
Loud music is not usually suitable for your cockatiel. It can cause your cockatiel to get stressed or anxious. In the wild, a loud noise of jarring sound often indicates terrible things, like a predator, a heavy storm, or panic among the flock.
Of course, some cockatiels become used to loud music and learn to enjoy it after enough exposure. However, most cockatiels will find it intimidating. If your cockatiel is sensitive, then it is better to err on the side of caution and turn down the music. Overexposing your cockatiel could result in chronic stress, leading to illness.
Additionally, loud melodies can harm your cockatiel’s hearing in the short term. To avoid this, make sure the speaker is slightly away from your cockatiel and not pointed directly at it. However, you can watch out for these symptoms to tell if the music is too loud for your cockatiel:
- Your cockatiel refuse to eat
- It plucks its feathers
- It sits at the bottom of the cage
- Fights with anothers
On the flip side, music should not be played too softly either. Cockatiels prefer the noise to be loud enough to listen carefully and pick out the melodies. On the other hand, if it’s subtle to hear correctly, your cockatiel may get frustrated.
How To Introduce Cockatiels To Music
When exposing your cockatiel to different music, starting slow and building up over time is good. Making your cockatiel listen to different genres and songs in a single sitting can potentially overwhelm it. However, you need to build this exposure slowly and make the cockatiel comfortable first.
For instance, you can start with calming tunes and more predictable melodies. Then slowly introduce the cockatiel to more diverse genres, such as rock and rap.
Also, be sure to pay careful attention to your cockatiel to try and decipher the kind of music it likes and dislikes. A cockatiel’s taste in music has much to do with its personality.
If your cockatiel has a calm temperament, it will enjoy classical or more soothing tunes. Meanwhile, if your cockatiel has a more excitable personality, it will probably enjoy up-beat songs that it can dance to.
Cockatiels’ Favorite Music
Individual cockatiels can grow to like other kinds of melodies, depending on their personality and the frequency of exposure. The best method to tell what your cockatiel likes is to watch its reactions. If you see your cockatiel responding in this way, it enjoys the song.
- It opens its beak to sing
- Making loud sounds like chirping
- Moves its bodies as if to dance
- Bobbing its head
- Whistling
Over time, a cockatiel can develop distinct musical tastes, depending on its personality and exposure. It might even surprise you by liking a genre you never expected to enjoy, such as rock or rap.
If you want your cockatiel to like your favorite song or genre, you can help it warm up to the music. For instance, you can dance in front of your cockatiel whenever the song plays. The cockatiel will naturally want to join you and feel a part of your flock. The more your cockatiel dances and the more closely it bonds with you, the more it will associate happy times with that song. Then it may look forward to hearing it.
