33 Years of Whistling: Meet the World’s Oldest Living Cockatiel!

Sonny the cockatiel just secured a spot in the Guinness World Records as the oldest living bird of his species, celebrating his 33rd birthday this past January! For perspective, this bird has been living in Northbrook, Illinois, since 1993.

His owner, Janet Reicher, got him when he was just a tiny chick, and he’s been the life of the party ever since. Sonny is famous for whistling the theme from The Andy Griffith Show and performing shower duets with Janet from the bathroom vanity. He’s basically a free-roaming member of the household who is fully paper-trained and spends his evenings on Janet’s knee watching TV!

Janet credits his lifespan to a solid diet and a ton of social interaction. He’s been her constant companion through years of her husband traveling for work, keeping her laughing and making sure the house never felt too quiet.