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Umbrella (Crested) Cockatoo
Cacatua alba
The Umbrella Crested Cockatoo, also known as the White Cockatoo or Umbrella Cockatoo, is one of the most popular of the
Cockatoo breeds. His loving personality and friendly antics keep those who meet them entertained for hours.
The Umbrella Cockatoo is highly intelligent, loving and affectionate. They love nothing more than to be snuggled and scratched.
Though, like all parrots they can, and often will bite if they are inclined to do so. But in general, because their dispositions
are so pleasant the Umbrella Cockatoo has charmed his way into many homes across the world. Though the Umbrella Cockatoo is
not for everything. In addition to needing large amount of time from their owners, it should also be noted that like most
of the larger parrots the Umbrella Cockatoo can be very loud. For this reason it is probably not well suited for apartment
life as neighbors would likely complain. They enjoy chewing and should be given plenty of toys to curb their chewing. They
are known for hard chewing and can destroy wood cages easily. They can become quite aggressive during breeding season and
therefore care should be taken if they are placed near other birds at this time. It is not uncommon for them to seriously
injure another bird during breeding season. All of this aside, the Umbrella Cockatoo does make a great pet provided prospective
owners are aware of their needs.
The Umbrella Cockatoo is a very large parrot measuring 18 inches (45cm) at maturity. One of the most charming things about
the Umbrella Cockatoo is his smiling face. While they are not actually smiling their cute bills and sparkling black eyes give
them a very happy appearance. They have striking white plumage which covers their entire bodies including their striking,
broad crests. The crests are backward angled and rise to glory when they are so inclined. A yellowing base is seen on the
feathers of the wings. It should be noted that most females will have lighter iris, usually reddish-brown. Immatures look
like adult males. The young females will develop their lighter iris by approximately one year of age. It should be noted that
at this time it is a grayish-brown. Most females also exhibit smaller heads and crowns.
Native to Indonesia, the wild Umbrella Cockatoo prefers a variety of areas including mangroves, forests, swamps, and other
areas with tress or tall secondary vegetation. While their numbers have been reduced due to decline in habitat and trapping,
they are not yet endangered.
Moluccan Cockatoo
Cacatua moluccensis
The striking Moluccan Cockatoo has become one of the most popular Cockatoos in captivity, and is also one of the most
common parrots seen in parrot rescues today.
As with most wild animals that can be domesticated, Moluccan Cockatoos raised by hand and those born in the wild can hardly
be given the same characteristics. Try cuddling up to a wild bird and you will understand what this means. In Indonesia, these
birds can be seen by themselves or in small groups usually early and late in the day. They seem to prefer roosting in the
taller trees of the forest usually close to their pair mate. Their loud cries are the only thing that gives them away at times,
as they are shy and very cautious. Hand raised birds are quite the opposite; they trade in their wild aloofness for an overwhelming
passion to be near people, and are more than gracious giving back the love their owners give to them. Unlike some birds kept
in the home, Cockatoos seem willing to show their regard for all in the family. One of the requirements of a home Cockatoo
is plenty of attention. While these birds are content with being by themselves, or another bird for a while they desire interaction
with their human counterparts. The loud cries that wild birds exhibit are not lost on our domesticated allies, although many
of them turn this noise into vocalizations. If a Moluccan Cockatoo is not given the amount of attention it desires they can
and often will scream very loudly. Moluccan Cockatoos can be very noisy; it is reported that their voices can be heard as
far as three blocks away. For this reason they may not be suitable for apartment living. Because of the intense time requirements
these birds may not be well suited for people with a busy lifestyle, they require a lot of attention and love. Many people
do not realize the time demands these birds place on their owners, and many suffer due to lack of proper care. It should also
be noted that like many parrots, the Moluccan can often become more aggressive as they reach sexual maturity. Your once sweet
and cuddly baby may all of a sudden change into a rather cranky individual. When a Moluccan is in a bad mood, one of the worst
things an owner can do is to raise their voices to the parrot. This usually only gets them more excited and can increase their
unwanted behavior. The Moluccan Cockatoo is one of the most common large parrots seen in rescue. Moluccan Cockatoos are highly
intelligent creatures, though they are not known for their talking ability. Because of the intellectual nature of this bird,
care must be taken to keep them occupied, even when we are not directly stimulating them. An assortment of perches and toys
will keep your avian Einstein content and happy. Overall the Moluccan Cockatoo is one of the most loving parrots, be he also
requires a lot of love in return. If you have the time and patience, a Moluccan Cockatoo may make a wonderful addition to
your home.
Moluccan Cockatoos are larger parrots, measuring around 50 centimeters. Whitish salmon coloring is the predominate feather
color on the Moluccan's body, but their deep salmon pink crest and under-feathers give a brilliant look. Orange, yellow, and
pink can be found on the base of the tail-feathers, with a black bill topping off this beautiful specimen.
It is this animal's endearing qualities, along with habitat loss that have put the Moluccan Cockatoo on the endangered
species list. Capture of the animals for trade has lead to the extinction of this breed from many of the Indonesian islands
that it use to be found. In 1925 a specimen later to be named King Tut was given as a gift to the San Diego Zoo. Zookeepers
soon fell in love with their new acquisition, and began to tame him. Although he was never as friendly as our modern hand
raised birds he became quite responsive to people and soon became an unofficial greeter to the zoo, offering up salutations
to entering zoo goers. King Tut served as an ambassador for his counterparts and introduced many people to this beautiful
and interesting creature.
Goffin's Cockatoo
Cacatua goffini
The Goffin's Cockatoo is probably the best-kept secret in the parrot world. This entertaining cockatoo has been delighting
those lucky enough to own them (or to be owned by them) for years. If you are looking for a bird with personality the Goffin's
Cockatoo might just be the bird for you.
The Goffin's Cockatoo is a fun-loving parrot who is a born entertainer. He is clever, loving, curious, playful and energetic.
These exciting parrots are a joy to own. Like most cockatoos the Goffin's Cockatoo is comical, and snuggly, but unlike the
other Cockatoo breeds the Goffin is quite small, making him very attractive to those who love Cockatoos but do not have room
for the large breeds. Because they are intelligent and social creatures the Goffin's Cockatoo can be demanding of their owner's
attention. One of the greatest joys in owning a Goffin's Cockatoo is receiving their snuggles and cuddles, but they expect
to receive as much love and affection as they give. Some Goffin's have been known to talk extensively, but this is not the
norm. They are described as having a fair talking ability, but it would be a mistake to think a Goffin's Cockatoo will automatically
learn to speak. Some never learn, others only a couple words and yet others will learn a large array of birds. Generally the
Goffin's Cockatoo is not regarded as a talking parrot, though they can be very loud. Some owners say they scream in a way
similar to many Amazons. The Goffin's Cockatoo is an excellent choice for families as they are usually great with children.
It should be noted that as with most of the larger parrots, the Goffin's Cockatoo can get quite loud.
The Goffin's Cockatoo is the smallest of all the Cockatoos, measuring only 12.5 inches (32cm) at maturity and weighing
in at 300 to 400g. The plumage of the Goffin's Cockatoo is a beautiful white. He has soft salmon pink lores and his ear coverlets
display a soft yellow tinge. His head feathers will also display a hint of pale pink shading at the base but is not visible
when looking at him. Yellow also decorates the underside of his wing and tail. This yellow is very soft and can be best described
as being a slight hint of yellow. Atop his beautiful head stands a round broad crest. The females have brown eyes while the
male's eyes are black; a bare white area surrounds both sexes' eyes. The difference in iris color may or may not be apparent.
To accurately determine the sex of your Goffin's Cockatoo you should have him tested by a qualified Veterinarian. His legs
and bill are light gray. Immature Goffin's Cockatoos strongly resemble the mature and are only distinguishable by having a
darker iris.
The Goffin's Cockatoo is native to the forests of the Tenimber Islands of Indonesia. In the wild they are a flock bird.
Reports of flocks numbering over 100 have been reported.
Rose-Breasted Cockatoo
Elopholus roseicapillus
The Rose Breasted Cockatoo or Galah as it is called in Australia is extremely popular as a pet and has managed to adapt
to the loss of its habitat. These birds simply changed their diets and now live on farmland rather than on wild-found food,
no doubt to the dismay of the encroaching farmers.
Because of their social nature, Rose Breasted Cockatoos or Rosies as they are affectionately called, make loving pets.
In the wild, they live in flocks of up to a few hundred birds. While they traditionally feed on seed in open grasslands and
savannahs, Rose Breasted Cockatoos have adapted to the farms that swallowed up their natural habitat. They see it simply as
an opportunity for easy feed, much to ranchers' and farmers' irritation. They tend to forage on the ground during the cooler
hours of the day, and sleep during the hot hours in the treetops. The night finds Rose-breasted Cockatoos roosting in eucalyptus
trees. These birds are well adapted to drought situations, and need little water or moist food. Rose Breasted Cockatoos are
good scavengers and seem to adapt well to changes in their environment. In captivity, they should be provided with a variety
of fruits, legumes, and vegetables, in addition to fresh water and a good basic seed mix or pellet food. It has been reported
that they also eat mall amounts of meat. Rose Breasted Cockatoos can chew through almost anything, so they should have some
chew toys among their other toys. They are very smart and love to keep your company or learn tricks. They seem to prefer running
and climbing to flying. Rose-breasted Cockatoos are good talkers, though males are reported to be better talkers than females.
These are affectionate birds that love to give kisses; even wild-caught birds have been known to be quite affectionate. Rose-breasted
Cockatoos do fine in aviaries that are five meters by one and two tenths meters by two meters in dimension. They will need
a nesting box to hide in, in case they feel stressed or sleepy. Be sure to provide your Rose Breasted Cockatoo with leaves
or paper shreds so it can comfortably arrange its nesting box and feel perfectly at home there. Rosies will also need to be
kept warm in winter. If males are not paired or socialized early, they may become territorial and aggressive. Captive bred
birds make more affectionate and healthier pets than wild-caught birds.
At maturity, Rose Breasted Cockatoos are about 35 centimeters long and weigh around 350 grams. Their feathers are soft
and down-like, making petting time as enjoyable for the petter as it is for the pet. Generally, Rose-breasted Cockatoos are
pink, with shades varying from carnation pink to fuchsia pink. The nape, forehead, lores and crown are generally a white-pink
shade, while the legs, upper abdomen, neck and chest are deep, dark pink. Rose Breasted Cockatoos have pearl gray wings, tails
and backs. The secondary flight coverts, the upper tail coverts, the rump, the abdomen, and the vent are all whitish gray.
The feet are dark gray and the beak is horn colored. The irises of Rose Breasted Cockatoos are dark except in females, and
the periopthalmic ring is rose-colored or gray, depending upon which of two subspecies your bird belongs to. In the wild,
Rose Breasted Cockatoos live for around 20 years; in captivity, they live 70 or 80 years.
Rose Breasted Cockatoos are native to Australia, where they destroy crops and are considered to be pests in many regions.
In the past some areas distributed culling licenses, though this is no longer practiced. As pets, Rose Breasted Cockatoos
are quite popular. They are affectionate, smart, and can talk quite well. As always, captive-bred birds make better pets than
wild-caught birds. Today it is illegal to take a Rose Breasted Cockatoo from the wild.
Triton Cockatoo
Cacatua galerita triton
The Triton Cockatoo is one of the world's largest cockatoos. The most famous Triton Cockatoo was a regular on the American
television show "Baretta". This television personality's name was Fred, and it has been reported that he was the
first animal to ever win an acting award. In truth, Fred was played by four different birds that are still alive today.
The Triton Cockatoo is also big on personality. They are generally very affectionate to their owners and seem to have
an endless love of being handled. In fact, some will even demand attention. These are not birds for people with little time
to give. They require a great deal of time and attention and should never be considered for a home where they will spend most
of their time alone. The Triton Cockatoo also has a large voice and is not typically well suited for apartment life for this
reason. They are most often loudest in the evening and in the morning. They are quite vocal and many learn to talk, though
they are best known for their intelligence. The Triton Cockatoo is able to learn many tricks. That, combined with their lively
personalities, makes the Triton Cockatoo very entertaining. Many Tritons are also very good at picking their way out of their
cages. This can be harmful both to the Triton and to belongings in your house, if they escape and are left unattended. For
this reason many Triton owners put locks on their cages to prevent unwanted escapes. Triton Cockatoos should be given plenty
of toys, particularly those they can chew. In addition, they should be given plenty of wooden perches to both climb and chew.
Because this species loves to chew, they can be quite destructive. Tritons are known to form close bonds with their owners
and are generally not nervous parrots, though they may be more nervous than the Greater Sulphur Crested Cockatoo.
The Triton Cockatoo is a large parrot that measures an average 18 inches (46 centimeters) and weighs approximately 693
grams at maturity. Males are generally larger than females. Like most cockatoos the Triton has stunning white plumage with
a striking yellow crest. Yellow feathers may also be seen under its tail and wings.
The Triton Cockatoo is native to New Guinea and nearby islands. They are a subspecies of the Greater Sulphur Crested Cockatoo
(Cacatua galerita galerita), which is also a very popular parrot in aviculture.
Lesser Sulphur Crested Cockatoo
Cacatua sulphurea sulphurea
The Lesser Sulfur Crested Cockatoo is highly trainable and quite beautiful. It is no surprise this wonderful parrot is
popular throughout the world.
The Lesser Sulfur Crested Cockatoo are readily trained to learn tricks. They also have exhibited strong mimicking ability,
with many owners reporting speech from their Lesser Sulfur Crested Cockatoo. Like all parrots there are not guarantees your
Lesser Sulfur Crested Cockatoo will talk. It has also been reported that the speech of the Lesser Sulfur Cockatoo is not as
good as that of the African Grey varieties. The Lesser Sulfur Crested Cockatoo has a strident call and can become quite noisy.
If you live in an apartment, you should take this into consideration before making him your pet. Some owners have reported
being able to train their Lesser Sulfur Crested Cockatoos to be quieter, but I do not think this is a realistic expectation.
Parrots are generally loud, and if you want a quiet pet you should look elsewhere. The Lesser Sulfur Cockatoo has a great
love of chewing, he should be provided with a large number of toys, as he is inclined to boredom. This bird will feather pluck
if bored. Chewing can also result in escape from his cage if an inappropriate cage is purchased. If you have your heart set
on inviting a Lesser Sulfur Crested Cockatoo you should be aware that they carry a large price tag of anywhere between $1600
- $2000. If their loudness and price tag does not scare you away, the Lesser Sulfur Cockatoo could be the pet for you.
The hallmark of the Lesser Sulfur Crested Cockatoo is his striking yellow crest. Their erect crest stands proudly atop
his head. The crest of this cockatoo is one of the largest and most impressive among all members. When relaxed the crest lies
facing back on his head, but when excited or stimulated it rises straight up standing several inches in height. The bright
yellow feathers are accented by several white feathers beginning the crest at the front. Aside from the brilliant yellow crest
the rest of the Lesser Sulfur Crested Cockatoo's plumage is white. In addition they have soft yellow cheek patches and yellow
can be seen on the underside of the tail and wings. They are smaller than some of the other Cockatoo species measuring in
at thirteen inches (33 cm) with a wing length of eight to nine and a half inches (21 - 245cm). They black bills and dark brown
iris. Males and females look identical except the female typically has a smaller bill and a lighter colored iris, which is
brown or reddish in color. The immatures have dark iris in for males and females with lighter feet than the normal adult gray.
The Lesser Sulfur Crested Cockatoo has a fairly wide natural range beginning in Australia and also seen in Singapore,
and possibly Indonesia.
Citron Cockatoo
Cacatua sulphurea citrinocristata
Although they are rarer in aviculture than their close relative the Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, Citron Crested Cockatoos
are highly valued by enthusiasts.
Citron Crested Cockatoos are social birds, living in pairs or small groups in the wild. They eat fruits, berries, flowers,
nuts and seeds in the wild and will associate with Eclectus Parrots or other birds from time to time. An extremely intelligent
bird, the Citron Crested Cockatoo can be taught a variety of amusing tricks and will even perform its own original antics
to catch your attention! These birds, although they may not be a good choice as a child's pet, have fairly gentle natures
and quickly form loving bonds with their owners. They adore playtime and attention, although they may not be a good apartment
bird since they can occasionally be a bit loud. Citron Crested Cockatoos love to chew, and so should be provided with a variety
of chew items. They can be kept in aviaries of 15 by six by six feet. When kept in small enclosures, Citron Crested Cockatoos
should be allowed plenty of time for exercise. The enclosure will need to be of metal, as these birds can chew right through
wire mesh. Generally, Citron Crested Cockatoos may be fed a good seed mix or pellet diet supplemented with plenty of fruits,
vegetables and greenfood. Especially nutritious favorites are peas and apples. Of course, they will also need fresh water
available at all times. When your Citron Crested Cockatoo is annoyed, it will indicate this to you by raising and lowering
its crest, and if it is extremely alarmed it may hiss. Once acclimatized and familiar with you, Citron Crested Cockatoos tend
to make hardy and sweetly affectionate pets.
At maturity, the Citron Crested Cockatoo is about 13 inches long. They have pristinely white plumage save over their heads
and on the pale golden- washed undersides of their flight and tail feathers. Their crests are the defining feature of the
Citron Crested Cockatoo, and are as lovely as they sound in the bird's name. A bright splash of citrus-like orange-yellow
adorns the crest and is complimented by the paler yellow ear coverts. Citron Crested Cockatoos have gray legs and black bills,
and they also have black eyes when they are babies. As they mature, the female's eyes will take on a reddish tinge while the
male's will reman black. Usually, the crest of males may be a bit more impressive than that of a female, and his bill is also
usually a bit bigger.
Citron Crested Cockatoos are native to the Sumba Islands located off the coast of mainland Indonesia. Sadly, in the wild
these birds are very much endangered. They have tendencies to raid agricultural areas from time to time in search of food,
which does not aid in their popularity. As pets, they tend to be a bit more even-tempered than the Sulphur Crested Cockatoo,
and their great beauty makes them a favorite of many people.
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