The Blockatiel meme features a cockatiel that has been digitally altered or captured at an angle to appear geometric and block-like, strongly resembling the aesthetic of Minecraft. It first gained traction in online pet and gaming communities where users found the bird's square-shaped appearance both adorable and absurd. Often used to represent 'gamer mode' or a glitch in reality, the Blockatiel serves as the perfect visual for jokes about low-resolution graphics or the immersion of the Minecraft universe. Its popularity stems from the natural expressiveness of cockatiels blended with the unmistakable blocky charm of sandbox gaming culture.