Facts About Cockatoos

Cockatoos consist of 21 species in the Cacatuidae family, according to the San Diego Zoo. They originated in Australia, New Guinea, Indonesia and the Philippines. They were kept by natives as pets, but when Europeans colonized the area, they began capturing and exporting them to Europe and North America. Cockatoos make fascinating but difficult pets, due to their high intelligence and health requirements.

  1. Species

    • The two most common pet cockatoo species are the greater and lesser sulphur-crested, which are all white with long yellow crest feathers on the head and a black beak. The greater is larger than the lesser of the two species. Another popular pet species is the salmon-crested or Moluccan cockatoo, which resembles the greater sulphur-crested but has pink head crest feathers instead of yellow. Other species kept as pets include the black cockatoo, the pink and white Major Mitchell, the umbrella cockatoo, the rose-breasted cockatoo, and the bizarre bare-eyed cockatoo.

    Physical Differences

    • Cockatoos differ in appearance from other pet parrot-like birds because of their head crests. These consist of long feathers that the bird can lower or raise. Cockatoo species are mostly white or mostly black, with the Major Mitchell a notable exception. Most cockatoo species lack a special texture in their body feathers that supports color. Cockatoos also are the only pet birds that do not produce body oil, but a body powder in order to help keep the feathers clean.

    Problems as Pets

    • No matter the species, cockatoos possess surprisingly loud voices for their medium-sized bodies. They also need constant attention and cannot be left alone for hours per day while the owner is out at work. When cockatoos are unhappy or want attention, they scream. They can even scream in the dark, which is highly unusual for any pet bird, according to the author of "Cockatoos: A Complete Pet Owner's Manual." Cockatoos are best with people who work out of their homes or with homemakers. White or pale-colored cockatoo species are prone to developing the highly contagious and potentially lethal Psittacine beak and feather disease, according to veterinarian Dr. Bob Marshall.

    Life Span

    • With good husbandry and luck, cockatoos can live to be 120 years old. However, the average life span is about 50 years. Cockatoos live longer in captivity than they do in the wild. Anyone considering getting a cockatoo as a pet must realize that the bird may outlive the owner, so this provision must be taken care of.