Tricks to Teach an Umbrella Cockatoo

Umbrella cockatoos are beautiful, funny birds that are known for being very affectionate toward their owners. They get their name from the umbrella shape of the crest that rises on their heads when they get scared or excited. Umbrella cockatoos are extremely intelligent birds that can be taught many tricks, including how to manipulate their owners. The most important part of training the umbrella cockatoo is to establish a trusting, loving relationship.

  1. Talk

    • Umbrella cockatoos can learn to talk in simple phrases with repetitive training. Repeat a short phrase, no more than two words long, over and over for 10 to 15 minutes. It is important to offer your cockatoo plenty of praise and treats when they respond, even if it is only with a sound at first. These birds respond well to enthusiastic praise. The cockatoo will take the longest amount of time to learn the first word, but after that the rest of the words should come more quickly.

    Wave

    • While the cockatoo is perched on a stand, wave at the bird with a small wiggling motion with your fingers. Choose a word such as "wave" to say while you wave at the bird; this will be the command you will use in the future to prompt the bird to do the wave trick. Offer your left hand for the cockatoo to step on, but do not actually let the bird step onto your finger. Repeat this motion and soon the cockatoo will catch on to the fact that it will have to raise its left foot high to get a reward. You will only have to wiggle your fingers, and the umbrella cockatoo will wave with its left foot.

    Shake Hands

    • Umbrella cockatoos can be taught to shake hands. If you already taught your cockatoo how to wave, the bird may think that you are trying to get it to wave when you first offer your right hand. If the bird tries to step onto your hand with its left foot, take your hand away. Continue offering your right hand to the cockatoo until it realizes that you want the bird to extend its right foot. When it finally places its right foot into your palm, reward the cockatoo and offer praise.

    Marble and Cup Trick

    • This trick involves setting up three cups and placing a marble under one of the cups. Mark one of the cups with a marker in a bright color, and direct the cockatoo toward the cup by tapping on it. Every time the bird moves toward the cup, reward it with praise or a treat. Soon the cockatoos will learn to topple the cup with the mark over after you demonstrate and reinforce this action. Once the bird has mastered knocking over the cup with the marking on it, place the marble or ball under the cup.