The cockatoo is a large white bird with an attractive crest and a fairly thick beak. They are incredibly popular pet birds because of their friendliness and ability to bond deeply with their caretakers. But if you’re looking to bring a cockatoo home, you may be surprised to discover their variety of exotic colors, sizes, and personalities! There are actually 21 cockatoo species, but only a few of these birds ultimately make great pets. Looking at the five types of pet cockatoos can help you pick a loyal avian companion.
1. Sulphur-crested Cockatoos Are Popular Pet Birds
The sulphur-crested cockatoo is well-known for its yellow crest and snow-white body. It is sought-after as a pet because of its intelligence and devotion to its caretakers. The sulphur-crested cockatoo needs constant stimulation through play and attention. If they aren’t interacted with, they will screech until they’re noticed. These parrots need up to five hours of interaction a day, or they will become depressed. This can lead to destructive behaviors such as feather plucking and excessive noise.
These beautiful birds are best left to experienced parrot keepers who understand how to handle them. Without the proper care and attention, cockatoos can leave a nasty bite or scratch their keepers with their long claws. In terms of size, these playful parrots reach a length of 15 inches and weigh up to 30 ounces. They need an enclosure of at least 60 inches with ample space to play and spread their wings. Sulphur-crested cockatoos do well on a diet of seeds, nuts, and greens.
2. Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo: A Rare Pet
The Major Mitchell’s cockatoo is also known as the pink cockatoo for its striking blush pink coloring and bright red and yellow head crest. The pink cockatoo originates from Australia, where it is sadly on the endangered list. This makes them quite rare as pets; nonetheless, these exotic parrots have made it into the homes and hearts of many experienced bird keepers.
You can expect Major Mitchell’s cockatoo to reach 14 inches in length. These large birds need a fair amount of socializing to become friendly and loyal pets. Their personalities are described as aloof, and they become nippy rather quickly. Despite their beauty, pink cockatoos aren’t the ideal pets because of their challenging personalities and tendency to bite.
3. Umbrella Cockatoos Can Learn Many Tricks
Umbrella cockatoos can be incredibly sweet parrots eager to learn and please their caretakers. These highly intelligent birds can be taught to speak and mimic sounds. With enough time and training, they can perform tricks such as hopping, dancing, and fetching small items. Much like all other cockatoo species, the umbrella cockatoo needs affection and socialization. Without time spent playing and getting close to their family, they become noisy and destructive. Many keepers have caught their cockatoos plucking their own feathers due to boredom and frustration. Be sure to socialize them with family and visitors to avoid these birds bonding to one person and becoming aggressive with outsiders.
You can identify the umbrella cockatoo by their pure white feathers from head to tail. Unlike the sulphur-crested and pink cockatoos with exotic colors, umbrellas have white crests with black beaks and pale blue shading around the eyes. They require spacious enclosures to move around and thrive with bird-specific toys, such as chewable ropes, wooden blocks, and foraging containers. Add fresh fruit and vegetables with a mixture of seeds to create a balanced diet and raise a healthy pet bird.
4. Goffin’s Cockatoo: Smaller Compared to Other Cockatoos
If you want the beauty and affection of a cockatoo but in a smaller package, then the Goffin’s cockatoo is a great choice. Maturing at 13 inches, these smaller cockatoos weigh between eight and 14 ounces compared to the weight of larger species at 30 ounces. Goffin’s cockatoos still need the time and attention you would provide their larger cousins, but they’re more manageable because of their modest size.
These smaller cockatoos are quiet when their basic needs are met. This means providing playtime for a few hours a day, allowing you to bond with your parrot. Their enclosure should be a minimum of 40 inches wide, and they should have perches to reach the upper levels of the cage. Much like the umbrella cockatoo, these parrots enjoy fruit, vegetables, and seeds.
5. Bare-eyed Cockatoos Form Strong Bonds
The bare-eyed cockatoo, also known as “little corella,” is another small variety that makes an excellent pet bird. You can easily spot a bare-eyed cockatoo by its white body and pale blue rings that extend far below the eyes. Bare-eyed cockatoos grow between 14 and 16 inches in length with slender frames. They are very playful birds and thrive on affection. Much like other cockatoo species, bare-eyed cockatoos form strong bonds with their family and need daily playtime.
You’ll find that these parrots are exceptionally smart and can learn words and entire phrases quickly. They are friendly birds and quieter than most cockatoos, making them a great choice for a family pet. Bare-eyed cockatoos enjoy a diet of seeds, insects, and fruits.
What to Know Before Getting a Cockatoo
Cockatoos are attention seekers and require at least 5 hours of meaningful activity a day. If you can’t dedicate time to playing, training, and socializing them, this might not be the best choice of pet bird for you. In addition to time, cockatoos are happiest in large and spacious enclosures of at least 60 inches wide (depending on the size of the bird). The cage must be made from steel or wrought iron because these parrots can chew through some of the toughest materials.
Cockatoos have lifespans of between 50 and 70 years, so they’re a long-term commitment. If they get bored or their needs aren’t met, these crested birds will protest by screeching, biting, and feather plucking. Always source pet cockatoos from reputable bird breeders and ensure that you can commit the time and effort needed to raise such stunning parrots.
