How Does a Cockatoo Protect Itself?

Many people keep cockatoos as pets because these birds bond easily with humans. However, these members of the parrot family are also highly evolved to survive in the wild. Cockatoos are intelligent and individual specimens have distinct personalities. These birds have several defense mechanisms, referred to as the "three F's," which they employ to protect themselves in the wild and may exhibit in captivity if they are frightened.

  1. Flight

    • Flight is a cockatoo's first defense. When cockatoos perceive danger, their first instinct is to abandon the area. For example, if a wild cockatoo senses an animal or piece of machinery trespassing on its territory, it is most likely to employ the flight defense method to avoid bodily harm. Common strains, such as rose-breasted cockatoos, have silver reflective feathers that can distract and blind predators when cockatoos fly in a flock.

    Freeze

    • If a cockatoo cannot take flight, it will use the freeze technique. For example, an injured or trapped bird will attempt to protect itself from danger by freezing rather than flying. Freezing involves holding perfectly still in an attempt to blend in with surroundings and be overlooked by potential predators. You may see your pet cockatoo freezing when something frightens it. Cockatoos are well camouflaged with their native environment of Australia in order to maximize the effectiveness of the freeze tactic.

    Fight

    • While cockatoos are not natural fighters, they will attempt to use violence and force when flight and freezing are not viable defense options. A cockatoo fights by scratching whatever is presenting a threat with its talons, pecking with its beak and beating the enemy with its wings. The fighting instinct is usually only awakened in a cockatoo by extreme fear and is used as a last resort. These birds will not risk fighting unless they perceive it to be essential to their survival, as they risk injury and death whenever they engage in physical conflict.

    Early Warnings

    • Cockatoos often sense disasters before humans. In Australia, these birds have been used as an early warning system prior to natural disasters and storms. Often before these occurrences, a large flock of wild cockatoos will take flight and rapidly leave the area. They respond to a call sent out by one of the flock that instructs the group to leave before disaster occurs.