Are Bare-Eyed & Goffin Cockatoos the Same?

Although they're sometimes confused for one another, bare-eyed cockatoos and goffin cockatoos are two distinct species. Both species make a great pets, but they have some differences to consider if you're trying to decide which type to get. These species, and all cockatoos, require a lot of time and attention from their owners, so be prepared for the commitment.

  1. Goffin Cockatoos

    • Goffin cockatoos originate from the Tanimbar Islands in Indonesia. They're relatively small for cockatoos, weighing on average 12 pounds. They're intelligent, affectionate and playful birds who require lots of attention and time out of the cage. Their feathers are mostly white, with some pink or salmon areas on their faces and the underside of their crests. Males and females are identical, except males have black eyes whereas females' eyes can be dark brown or slightly red.

    Bare-Eyed Cockatoos

    • Bare-eyed cockatoos are sometimes called little Corella cockatoos. They're endemic to northern, northwestern and eastern parts of Australia. They're known for being fun, entertaining and friendly family pets. They're generally better talkers than most other species of cockatoo. Their plumage is mostly white, with some orange-pink feathers on the face, head and neck. They have rings of bare flesh around their eyes, which are blue-gray in color.

    Similarities

    • Goffin and bare-eyed cockatoos have a number of similarities, so much so that they're sometimes confused for one another. They're much alike in appearance to the casual observer. Both have predominantly white feathers, along with gray beaks and feet. Both species are extremely friendly and affectionate, so they need lots of human contact and interaction to keep them healthy. Their diets both require pellet-based parrot or cockatoo food as well as a wide range of fresh fruit and vegetables.

    Differences

    • Although the two species are similar in size, on average bare-eyed cockatoos measure 15 inches from head to tail tip -- slightly larger than goffin cockatoos, which measure roughly 12 inches from head to tail tip. Bare-eyed cockatoos have a large blue-gray area of bare skin around their eyes, reaching down to their beaks. When these birds raise their crests, you'll notice that goffins have salmon feathers on the underside, whereas bare-eyeds do not. Both kinds of bird have beaks of a similar shade of gray, but bare-eyed specimens have slightly elongated beaks compared to goffin cockatoos'.