Cockatoos are popular birds in aviculture, but they are challenging to keep well. Illegal trade in wild-caught birds is contributing to the decline of some cockatoo species. The cockatoos are members of the parrot family Cacatuidae. There are 21 species worldwide, with a mainly Australasian distribution.
Penny the cockatoo is the star of a TikTok account. Her mom shares all sorts of funny footage of this beautiful bird.
Palm Cockatoos
The palm cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus) is a large black bird with a distinctive red patch on the face that goes deeper red when the bird is excited or alarmed. Its crest is taller than those of other cockatoos and its beak has edges that look like stair steps to help it grip the nuts, seeds, and fruit that it eats.
It often eats in groups, with one bird acting as a sentinel to alert the group of any predator or danger that approaches. These birds are highly social and spend much of their time interacting and preening.
These cockatoos live in rainforests and woodlands of New Guinea and northern Queensland’s Cape York Peninsula as well as parts of West Papua, Indonesia. They typically choose big trees for roosting and nesting. In the wild, these birds tend to be monogamous and mate for life. They lay a single egg every two years. Anecdotal evidence suggests these birds can live for 80 or 90 years in captivity.
Cockatoo Beak
Cockatoos have a two-prong lower mandible, which combined with the curved single point of their upper jaw gives them a powerful bite. This allows them to cut through hard surfaces, such as wood, with great force. Wild cockatoos are known to cause significant damage to houses made of wood.
The cockatoo beak is also able to grind and scrape against other surfaces. This behavior is important in cockatoos because it helps them to maintain the shape of their beaks and prevents overgrowth. It also helps them to remove any dirt or debris trapped in their beaks.
Some people are alarmed by the sight of their cockatoo grinding its beak against other objects in the cage, but this is not a sign of aggression or anger. It is more likely a behavior that the bird engages in as part of a ritual before its mid-day nap or at the end of the day to relax. It may also occur when it is playing with a toy that it has become attached to.
Cockatoo Color
Cockatoos are one of the most popular exotic birds to keep as pets. Their sharp beaks can act as a third leg when climbing and gripping objects. They also have a crest of feathers on top of their heads that can pop up like an umbrella when they are startled or excited.
They have excellent hearing and use it to stay in contact with other cockatoos in their flock and to pick up sounds of predators. They also have color vision, but it’s different from humans’ because they have four light-sensitive pigments in the retina of their eyes that are activated by specific wavelenghts of light and are interpreted as colors.
These social birds need companionship and can become neurotic if left alone for long periods of time. They can also bite if they are overstimulated or cuddled too much. That’s why it’s best to keep a cockatoo in pairs, and if that isn’t possible, make sure they have a friend of the same size to play with.
Cockatoo Habitat
Cockatoos are very social birds that need a lot of attention. It’s important to spend time with them daily, but only stroke their heads—stroking their bodies can send unintended sexual messages. It’s also helpful to keep cockatoos on a schedule so they know when you’ll be around for playtime and cuddling. Providing lots of chewable non-toxic wood toys and natural ropes that can be shredded will help keep them entertained and out of trouble.
Cockatoos have large bills and a muscular tongue that allow them to manipulate seeds, fruits, and other food. These animals are highly intelligent and learn quickly. They’re often considered parrots’ best companions, although their high-maintenance emotional and physical needs can sometimes make them challenging to keep as a pet. With proper care, cockatoos can live 30 or more years. One famous example is a white umbrella cockatoo named Harley who was a celebrity on Instagram and lived to the ripe age of 120.
