A small crested parrot native to Australia, popular as a pet, with a distinctive yellow head-crest and whistle-like calls.
From Dutch 'kakatoe' (cockatoo, from Malay 'kakatua') combined with 'tiel' (a type of parrot). The term entered English from Dutch colonial naturalists in the 17th-18th centuries.
The word 'cockatiel' traveled from Malay to Dutch to English as European explorers encountered Australian wildlife. Each language added its own twist, and we ended up with this quirky-sounding name for a beloved pet!
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