Have you been wondering about how the cockatiel vision works?
Maybe you are curious and looking to find out how their eyes work. Or, perhaps, you have a pet cockatiel and are looking to understand it much better.
Whatever your reasons are for reading this article, we hope to help you discover all the answers to your questions about your pet’s vision.
Today, we will cover interesting facts about a cockatiel’s vision that not so many people may be aware of. Let’s jump right into it.
Cockatiel Vision And How They See
These birds have a vision that allows it to tune into various wavelengths including vegetables, fruits and seeds without any problem. They can also see clearly the blue sky, vegetation, and flowers. Their eyes have cones, which help them to depict more colors than what humans can see. For us, we see blue, red, and green while cockatiels see those too, including other ones such as ultraviolet and yellow.
Because of their great vision, they can locate their food and mates, as well as evade predators quickly. They have eyes with great sensitivity to movement, and this is what keeps them safe from threats and other birds of prey. When they are in the wild, they like to stay with their flocks usually made up of about 30 birds.
With their keen and clear vision, these birds are capable of focusing on their flock and making sure that they remain close for safety purposes.
Cockatiels see much better than humans do. They can detect ultraviolet light, so this enables them to see various colors – more than what we can fathom.
However, that is not all – their field of view is also quite vast. They can see things in different directions without even having to move their heads. Their depth perception is exceptional, allowing them to determine the distance of an object. Their eyes offer them a three-dimensional vision of their world.
With that being said, cockatiels have a field of vision at around 350 degrees. They can see the front, back, up and down by keeping their head still. But they have a minimal blind spot in the front portion of the beak.
Since their eyesight is exceptional, they can easily locate their food and water. They can keep themselves safe by staying out of the way of predators. But when it comes to domesticated cockatiels, they have a tendency to get bored since there is not a whole lot they can do while in captivity.
This is why it is very important to keep your pet physically and mentally stimulated. You need to provide perches and toys that will not also prevent boredom but these can also maintain the health and activity of their eyes.
A cockatiel’s eyes are quite similar to those of a human’s. Their color vision is good and they can detect different types of colors. But they are also sensitive to very bright lights, and this explains the reason why they tend to close their eyes each time they see brilliant lights.
These birds are also impressive when it comes to judging depth perception. They can judge accurately the distance of objects from where they are. So, when they fly, they can stay safe by avoiding obstacles in the air and land securely each time.
Interestingly, they have a nictitating membrane or their third eyelid. This is very important for protecting their vision from dirt and dust that can obstruct the way they see things. This also slides from the outer to the inner corner of their eyes. When something gets into its eye or when your pet is scared, the third eyelid becomes more visible.
Caring For A Cockatiel Vision
Considering how important it is for your pet to have excellent vision, it helps to support its eye health as a responsible owner. First, be sure that the cage is free from debris or dirt since these things can get stuck in your pet’s eyes and cause problems.
You should also make it a point to provide toys and perches in your pet’s cage. These will not only entertain your pet but also keep the eyes active since it is not doing its usual activity as in the wild.
Make sure that you take your pet to the vet for a checkup. The eyes need to be checked to prevent further problems from developing or to avoid any issue in the first place.
In case you use some products for cleaning your pet’s cage, be sure that it is safe for your pet. There are some chemicals that are particularly harmful and even toxic to these creatures, which can trigger eye damage or irritation. In case you smoke, do not do it near your pet. Not only will secondhand smoke irritate your pet’s respiratory system but also its vision.
And lastly, the area where you keep your pet should have ample ventilation. You should also avoid setting up a fan that blows directly to the cage since this can carry some dirt and have it go straight into your pet’s eyes.
Cockatiels, unfortunately, can also go blind just like every animal. Because of old age, these birds may lose the accuracy of their vision and slowly progress to blindness. There are also issues with cataracts, although this can most definitely be treated. The most important thing is to prevent any symptom from getting worse by taking your pet to the vet immediately.
Read More: Are Cockatiels Color Blind? Fascinating Facts You Never Knew
Conclusion
A cockatiel’s vision is quite good as not only can these birds see a vast spectrum of different colors that humans cannot see, but they are also able to judge distance and contrast well. This explains their excellence in flying and landing, as well as in avoiding any obstacles that can lead to injuries and even death.
But some eye problems may occur throughout the lifespan of your pet, this is why it is best to ensure proper diet, regular vet checkups and cleanliness of the cage to prevent foreign objects from getting into its eye and wreaking havoc to its vision.
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