Cockatoo

Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo - Photo: Sermsak S/Shutterstock

Cockatoo Facts

Main Characteristics

Cockatoos are highly intelligent parrots. They inhabit Australia and Asia. Their most distinctive feature is the feather crest on their head, which makes them easily distinguishable from other parrots.

Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo - Photo: Glanzpunkt/Shutterstock

Species

There are 21 species, including the clever Goffin's Cockatoo, the large Palm Cockatoo, the black Raven Cockatoo, and the beautiful Rose-breasted Cockatoo. The popular pet Cockatiel is also a type of cockatoo.

Distribution and Habitat

Cockatoos are found only in Australia and Asia. They inhabit tropical rainforests, open grasslands, dry forests, scrublands, mangroves, and even urban areas.

Lifestyle

Cockatoos are diurnal birds. They are social creatures that live in groups of up to 100 individuals. When they gather at feeding, drinking, and roosting sites, large flocks of over 10,000 birds can form.

Cockatoo Body Structure and Appearance - Photo: Martin Pelanek/Shutterstock

Anatomy and Appearance

Size and Weight

The smallest cockatoos measure about 12 inches (30 cm) in height. The largest can grow up to 26 inches (66 cm) long. There are also significant differences in weight. A small cockatoo weighs around 0.66 pounds (300 grams), which is equivalent to three chocolate bars. Larger varieties can weigh up to 2.2 pounds (1,000 grams).

Fun Crest

Cockatoos have a striking head plumage known as the crest. They can raise it up or lay it flat against their head. The palm cockatoo boasts the longest crest, reaching up to 6 inches (15 cm). In contrast, the raven cockatoo has the shortest crest, which is nearly invisible.

Strong Beak

Cockatoos are equipped with a very strong, large beak. The palm cockatoo even has the second-largest beak among all parrots, with the largest belonging to the blue macaw.

Diverse Colors

The plumage varies in color depending on the species. It can be white, gray, black, or pink. The crest can be red, yellow, white, black, or multicolored striped.

Delicate Powder Down

Most cockatoos have what are known as "powder down" feathers. These are feathers that break down into fine dust at the tips, similar to powder. However, the birds do not end up without feathers, as they continuously grow back. The powder serves an important purpose: it protects and maintains the plumage.

Galah Cockatoo - Photo: Gabriela Beres/Shutterstock

Diet

Cockatoos are herbivores. Their diet consists of fruits, seeds, roots, flowers, and buds.

Behavior

Why do cockatoos raise their crest?

Cockatoos quickly raise their crest when they are excited, startled, or scared. They also fan out their head feathers to impress females or to ward off rivals.

Cockatoos are quite loud

Cockatoos call, growl, whistle, and screech. The call of the Moluccan cockatoo can reach a volume of 120-135 decibels. That's as loud as a real thunderclap. You can hear this call from up to 8 km away.

Communication

Through their calls, they communicate their feelings to fellow cockatoos, interact with them, and alert them to predators.

Pink Cockatoo - Photo: Kristian Bell/Shutterstock

Skills and Senses

Beak

The beak of a cockatoo is like a Swiss Army knife. It opens nuts, cuts roots, and digs insects out of the ground. They also use it as a grip when climbing trees.

Intelligence

They Use Tools

Cockatoos are highly intelligent birds. They utilize tools to access the seeds of certain fruits. Goffin's cockatoos have even been seen crafting "utensils" from knives, forks, and spoons.

And Can Solve Puzzles

Cockatoos can effortlessly unlock locks that require solving five puzzles in the correct order.

They Pass the Marshmallow Test

Cockatoos successfully pass the Marshmallow Test, originally designed for children. In this test, participants choose between receiving an immediate reward or waiting for an unspecified time to receive two rewards. Understanding the situation requires significant intelligence, and waiting demands self-control and an awareness of time.

They Can Even Open Trash Cans

In Australia, cockatoos have learned from each other how to open large trash cans. They first lift the lid with their beak at the same spot where humans do. Then, they keep it open with their beak while walking along the edge to the hinges where the lid is attached. There, they can finally push it up with their body so it doesn't close again.

Palm Cockatoo - Photo: jurra8/stock.adobe.com

Life Expectancy

Cacatua can live between 20-70 years in the wild. The oldest recorded was a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo at the London Zoo, which lived to be an impressive 82 years old.

Enemies and Threats

Natural Enemies

The natural predators of cockatoos include birds of prey such as the Black Kite, Sydney Sparrowhawk, Wedge-tailed Eagle, and White-bellied Sea Eagle. Additionally, owls like the Great Horned Owl and the Tawny Owl also hunt these birds.

Human Impact

Many species of cockatoos are at risk. Humans destroy their habitats by logging forests. This leads to a lack of nesting cavities for the birds. Another significant issue is illegal trade. Poachers capture the birds and sell them for high prices as pets. The use of toxic substances in agriculture also poses a serious threat to these animals.

Importance to the Ecosystem

Cockatoos play a vital role in nature. They feed on seeds and fruits. As they fly through their territory, they excrete undigested seeds, which helps new plants and trees grow in different locations. They assist the forest in renewing itself.

Goffin's Cockatoo - Photo: SunyawitPhoto/Shutterstock

Reproduction

Courtship Ritual

The mating ritual involves the male bowing before the female. If she finds him appealing and agrees, they will stay together for life.

Nest

After mating, cockatoos build their nest in a tree hollow. To protect the chicks from lizards and snakes, they strip the bark around the entrance. This makes the tree smooth and slippery, preventing reptiles from reaching the nest.

Incubation and Rearing

The incubation period lasts between 18-30 days. The chicks are fed for 35-120 days.

Fun Facts

Cockatoos Are True Drummers

The palm cockatoo uses sticks and stones to drum against branches. The resonating sound it produces can be heard over long distances.

Most Are Left-Footed

Most cockatoos are "left-footed," meaning they prefer to use their left foot to bring food to their beak. However, there are a few that are right-footed.

Years of Feather Molting

For black cockatoos, the molting process can take up to two years. They replace their feathers one at a time, individually.

Sources:

• Flexible tool set transport in Goffin’s cockatoos (https://www.sciencedirect.com)
• Innovation and geographic spread of a complex foraging culture in an urban parrot (https://www.science.org)
• Handbook of the Birds of the World. Band 4: Sandgrouse to Cuckoos (https://www.researchgate.net)