Cockatoos


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    16 Umbrella Cockatoo, 16 years old

Please note that each type of bird is a different species and NOT a different breed. Also most species of birds have more than 1 name that they are known by. We have tried to list the most common names for each species.

Species of Cockatoos:

Black Palm Cockatoo / Probosciger atterimus,

Red-tailed Black Cockatoo / Calyptorhynchus banksii,

Glossy Black Cockatoo / Calyptorhynchus lathami,

Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo / Calyptorhynchus funereus,

Short-billed Black-Cockatoo / Calyptorhynchus latirostris,

Long-billed Black Cockatoo / Calyptorhynchus baudinii,

Gang-gang Cockatoo / Callocephalon fimbriatum,

Galah / Eolophus roseicapillus roseicapillus / Cacatua roseicapilla,

Major Mitchell's Cockatoo / Cacatua leadbeateri,

Yellow-crested Cockatoo (aka Lesser Sulphur-crested Cockatoo) / Cacatua sulphurea,

Abbott's Cockatoo (aka Medium Suphur-Crested Cockatoo) / Cacatua Sulphurea Abbotti,  

Eleonora Cockatoo  /  Cacatua galerita eleonora

Timor Cockatoo / Cacatua galerita,

Tanimbar Corella aka  Goffin's Cockatoo  / Cacatua goffini,

Citron-crested Cockatoo /  Cacatua sulphurea citrinocristata,  

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo or Triton Cockatoo / Cacatua galerita,

Eleonora Cockatoo  /  Cacatua galerita eleonora  

Fitzroy Cockatoo / Cacatua (Cacatua) galerita fitzroyi

Greater Sulphur-crested Cockatoo / Cacatua (Cacatua) galerita galerita

Blue-eyed Cockatoo / Cacatua (Cacatua) ophthalmica

Umbrella Cockatoo / Cacatua (Cacatua) alba

Moluccan Cockatoo / Cacatua (Cacatua) moluccensis

Cockatoo on the Endangered Species List: Currently to do the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species all cockatoos are protected and on the endangered species list. Cockatoos are threatened by the loss of there homes and those that illegally catch and sell them for pets. One species of cockatoo, Yellow-crested / Abbott's cockatoo was feared to be extinct but a small breeding colony was found on a remote Indonesian island. The Red-vented cockatoo is also highly endangered.

Life span: 50 to 80 years depending on the species.

Description: Although the most common Cockatoos are white with peach or yellow under tones. They can also be black, pink and grey in color . The cockatoo has a crest a top of there head that can be lifted when scared or excited. The body is fairly slender and all have a short fan style tail. The cockatoos eye is large and is often said to look more like the human eye than other parrots.   

Age at maturity: 2 to 4 years old depending on the species.

Distribution: Philippines, eastern Indonesian islands of Wallacea, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Australia.

Size - Weight: Cockatoos vary a lot in size Cockatiels are the smallest of the cockatoo family at 10- 13 inches in length and weighs between 80-110 grams. The Largest is the Black Palm Cockatoo which is 20-24 inches in length and weighs between 500-1,200 g.

Talking ability:Low to Fair. Cockatoos are not considered to be a good talkers. They are able to talk but it is often hard to understand and they often only speak a few words.  

Common Behavioral Problems: Cockatoos have a little more than there fair share of common behavioral problems. Cockatoos commonly will have problems with screaming for attention, biting, plucking/ self mutilation, depression and cage aggression most often caused by throwing things at the cage when the scream. These birds are known as the lovers of the bird word and so they are a popular pet. The problem is that most people can not handle there load daily calls / screaming and are not able to provide the constant attention these birds want. So they will begin to pluck, self mutilate, scream and become depressed. Cockatoos are probably the bird that is passed on from home to home the most because the owners can’t cope. Before you choose to get a cockatoo thoroughly research the species of cockatoo you are interested in and if possible spend time with cockatoo owners, so you will know what to expect. We also recommend that you visit the website Mytoos.com.   

Common Diseases and Disorders: Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease, Feather-picking, Self mutilation, Juvenile chewing of flight feathers and tail, Poor eating habits - picky eaters, Obesity - Lipomas (some species), Bacterial and fungal infections, Sarcocystis, Cloacal prolapse, Mate aggression and  Toxicity, ingestion of metals.

Additional notes:Cockatoos can make very loving and devoted lifelong companions but they require a lot of daily attention and things to chew on. They also are not a good choice if you live in a close living situation as they are very loud with some species being able to be heard up to 3 miles away in the wild. All cockatoos also have a white powder on there feathers that can be a real problem for people with repository problems or allergies. Even some people without breathing problems still have trouble breathing when in the same room. It is wise to spend time with the type of cockatoo you are interested in getting before you bring one home, so you know if you or a family member has a problem being around them. Most cockatoos form very strong bonds to there families and so having to re-home them can be very detrimental, so please do your search before getting 1 of these birds. For a well informed and experienced owner these birds can make very loving and devoted companions.

Websites we recommend about Cockatoos:

 





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