Learning About the Cockatoo
Learning about the cockatoo gives you the information necessary in choosing the right kind as a pet for you. Cockatoos are loving and loyal pets.
Making up more than 20 different species, the cockatoo family of birds is interesting and various. Learning about the cockatoo bird family educates you on these intelligent and interesting birds, whether or not you are wanting one as a pet. From the common moluccan and umbrella species to rarities like the yellow-crested Abbot's cockatoo, learning about the cockatoo opens you up to exciting aviary knowledge.
Basic Information
The cockatoo was given its name in the 17th century as a derivative of the word kakatuwah. In Malay, this word means "grip". This is attributed to the cockatoo's surprisingly strong, thick beak which can chop through hard wood with little problem. They are medium to large-sized parrots that vary immensely in appearance from species to species. Some varieties of cockatoo are common household pets while others remain in the wild.
Pet Species
Out of the 20 or so cockatoo species, around half of them serve as rewarding pets. Learning about cockatoos that serve as good house pets encompasses learning about the following species:
Goffin's Cockatoo
Sometimes thought to be the most affectionate of the cockatoo species, the Goffin's cockatoo is intelligent and social. It stands about a foot in height and are heavily feathered. Their coloring is the common white, but their crest, the area between their eyes and parts of their chest are tinged a rosy pink hue. They live for a an approximation of 30 human years.
Moluccan Cockatoo
A native cockatoo species of Indonesia, the moluccan cockatoo is an attractive, but demanding pet. It requires constant attention; Up to five hours daily. They are considerably larger than Goffins' cockatoos, measuring nearly 2 feet in height. The coloring of the moluccan cokatoo is flamboyant and vivid. The feathers are variant tones of white and shades of pink.
Moluccan cockatoos bond with their owners to the point of becoming jealous around other family members and strangers. With jealousy sometimes comes aggression so it is important to socialize a moluccan from a young age so that it doesn't become overly aggressive with people other than its primary owner.
Umbrella Cockatoo
The umbrella cockatoo is affectionate and bonds strongly with its owner. Females tend to prefer male owners and male umbrella cockatoos tend to bond well with women. It grows to be about as large as the moluccan cockatoo and is mostly white with very little yellowing within its crown-like crest.
The average lifespan of an umbrella cockatoo is 35 to 50 years and they enjoy a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, supplemented by parrot-formulated seed feed. Like with other cockatoo species, owning an umbrella cockatoo as a pet requires a longterm commitment. They are extremely social and can be noisy.
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