Quieter Now, but Still a Star: 33-Year-Old Cockatiel Sets Guinness World Record

Quieter now, but still a star: a 33-year-old cockatiel sets the Guinness World Record. He’s still singing a song the world can’t stop loving, even though Sonny doesn’t talk as much as he used to.

These days, his voice is softer, his words fewer, his melodies more like gentle echoes than full performances. But Sonny is still making history — and melting hearts — as the world’s oldest living cockatiel. Late last year, Guinness World Records officially named Sonny the oldest cockatiel in the world. In January, he turned 33, quietly breaking his own record and more than doubling the average lifespan of his species. I wonder if he knows he’s famous?

The Cockatiel Has Lived With His Family For More than 30 Years

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For Sonny’s family in Illinois, the title feels secondary. What matters most is that he’s still here.

Sonny has lived with Janet and her family for more than three decades. He arrived as a tiny 12-week-old bird, never meant to stay forever — just long enough to become part of the household. But years turned into decades, and Sonny stayed. He watched life unfold from kitchen counters and shoulders, from quiet afternoons to seasons of change.

“He has been a great companion to me all these years,” Janet said, especially during the times when her husband traveled for work.

This Cockatiel Hit the Guinness World Record

Cockatiels typically live 10 to 15 years. Sonny is more than twice that age now. He’s slower. Quieter. His vocabulary has dwindled to just a few phrases — “Hi Sonny,” “No,” and “Okay.” The elaborate duets he once performed while Janet showered have faded into soft babble and gentle whistles.

But the love hasn’t faded at all.

Sonny still spends his days close to people — perched on Janet’s knee while she watches TV, greeting visitors who stop to give him attention. He rarely stays in his cage except to eat, drink, or sleep. At this stage of life, comfort matters more than routine.

And yes — Sonny eats well.

His Diet, and Human Interactions, as Well As Love Has Led to His Longevity

His diet includes vegetables, protein-rich foods, and one beloved staple: freshly baked muffins. Janet smiles when people ask about his longevity, crediting “cleanliness, human food rich in protein and vegetables, human interaction, and lots of love.”

It shows.

There’s something quietly profound about a bird who no longer performs the way he once did, yet still holds the world’s attention. Sonny reminds us that worth isn’t measured by volume or productivity. Sometimes it’s measured by presence. By constancy. By simply staying.

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At 33, Sonny may be quieter now — but his life is still a song. One written in small daily rituals, in shared space, in decades of devotion between a bird and the people who never stopped loving him.

And somehow, that feels like the most beautiful record of all.

“Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”  Isaiah 46:4

WATCH: Quieter Now, but Still a Star: 33-Year-Old Cockatiel Sets Guinness World Record

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h/t: People

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Heather Riggleman is a believer, wife, mom, author, social media consultant, and full-time writer. She lives in Minden, Nebraska with her kids, high school sweetheart, and three cats who are her entourage around the homestead. She is a former award-winning journalist with over 2,000 articles published. She is full of grace and grit, raw honesty, and truly believes tacos can solve just about any situation. You can find her on GodUpdates, iBelieve, Crosswalk, Hello Darling, Focus On The Family, and in Brio Magazine. Connect with her at www.HeatherRiggleman.com or on Facebook.