When people call them "Velcro" birds, they're only half kidding! Cockatoos love attention even more than most birds, often happiest while being petted and spending out-of-cage time cuddling their humans. With all these special attributes, you won't be surprised to learn that cockatoos' personalities shine as well! These babies have a reputation for being the most social, people-friendly birds around. This dust coats the other feathers, keeping them healthy and clean. Instead, cockatoo feathers create a special kind of dust, which comes from the breakdown of specialized feathers. The black and white birds lack a texture in their feathers – called Dyck's texture – which creates visible color because it reflects light in a special way.Ĭockatoos also lack the oil glands that let many other bird species keep their feathers healthy. This variety in color comes from the varied structure of cockatoos' feathers. Notable exceptions include galahs, who rock a dusty grey and rose color combo, and cockatiels, whose shades include grey and yellow, green and albino.
Most cockatoos are black or white with a splash of yellow or red on their crest or head. Watch out for a crest that's flattened against the cockatoo's head, however – that fid's not happy and might get violent!
Pay attention to a cockatoo's crest to learn about its mood: an erect crest means the bird is anxious or startled, and a relaxed crest suggests that all's good in birdie town. Most obvious is the cockatoo's crest: the tuft of feathers on top of the head.
Native to Australia, New Guinea, Indonesia, Solomon Islands and the PhilippinesĮndangered Status: varies among species from Least Concern to Vulnerable, Near Threatened and Critically EndangeredĬockatoos are a varied bunch, comprising 20 distinct species within the family, but they do share a number of distinguishing characteristics. Largest – Red-tailed black cockatoo at 20 to 26 inches tall Size: Smallest – Solomon corella and Philippine cockatoo at about 12 inches tall You should buy strong cages made of wrought iron, stainless steel, etc., as cockatoos have a very tough beak.Lifespan: 40 to 60 years or more, depending on species and quality of care If you have a large cockatoo, you will need a cage of about 24″ x 48″ x 48″ and bar spacing of about 1″ to 1.5″. CareĪs far as housing requirements are concerned, you need to have a cage that is not smaller than a 24″ x 36″ x 48″ in size. Most of the birds die young in captivity, which reiterates the point that good care is required to ensure long life. The larger cockatoos, like Moluccan species, has a longer lifespan of about 80 years. The average lifespan is about 40 years for smaller birds like the Goffin’s cockatoo. You should take your bird to a good veterinarian and try to find some solution to treat it. You need to see if it is under stress, or is bored with the environment. The bird might be suffering from zinc poisoning, bacterial infection, dry skin, vitamin A deficiency, or tapeworm. It may also indicate physical or emotional problems. If your cockatoo starts plucking its feathers and resorts to self-mutilation, it means it is not getting its daily dose of attention. That, again, differs from one species to another. Cockatoos are less inclined towards mimicry, but they can speak like humans when trained. Their behavior is such that they have an intelligent, playful personality, and tend to be very loud. These birds love to be pampered like a baby. If you fail to do so, they become aggressive. They need a lot of personal attention and need to be cuddled a lot. Additionally, they are very sensitive in nature.
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