Cockatoo Facts

You want to have a bird for a pet at home. One of the great options you have is a cockatoo. They are one of the intelligent birds, that you will come across. Cockatoos are actually crested parrots, which are commonly found in Indonesia, Philippines and Australia. They are, as a matter of fact, the most popular type of pet parrots. Before you get a cockatoo at home, it is important to study about this bird well. They are available in number of different colors. One will have to decide from the different types of cockatoos available. Before we proceed further towards cockatoo facts, I would like to bring it to your notice, that cockatoo bred in captivity only can be kept as pets. Keeping a cockatoo caught in the free is illegal.

Cockatoo Facts for Kids

No doubt cockatoos as pets are one of the most loving creatures. They are also very loyal and make up for very interesting companion to human beings. However, keeping cockatoo as pets is a lifetime commitment. These birds are known to have a very long lifespan. They may live for as long as 120 years.

There are as many as 21 species of cockatoo. They belong to the bird family called Cacatuidae. The origin of the name for this bird is from a Malay name of the bird, which reads kakaktua. Recognizing cockatoos is not a difficult task, as they have a very showy crests and curved bills. They are large in size as compared to the parrots, however, one of the species called Cockatiel is much smaller in size.

One of the facts is that the owner has to pay a lot of attention. If the birds are neglected or they are bored, they often tend to fall ill. In case they are bored or stressed, they can cause harm to themselves. The cockatoos may mutilate their own feathers, by plucking them out, when they are stressed or bored. As a matter of fact, they are known to pick up a few words, when they are surrounded by humans. If there nature has to be analyzed, they are very social in nature. They are always seen as a flock. It is important that the cockatoos are freed everyday from their cage. It is very important for their well-being as well.

An important part of cockatoo care is the right kind of food. The basic food is fruit and seeds. They like feeding on berries, nuts and roots. They will very happily pick up food from human hands. An interesting cockatoo fact is that they eat a fruit, only so that they can have seeds from the fruit. Some of the species of fruits may be seen digging into bulbs as well. Cockatoos are normally seen using their legs as hands. They pick up food with their legs and bring it closer to their mouth.

One of the species to be kept as pets at home are the umbrella cockatoo. The scientific name of this species is Cacatua Alba. The name umbrella cockatoo derives its name from the crest on their head, which resembles an umbrella. One of the facts about umbrella cockatoo facts is that they are very good at rot learning. Therefore, if you want your pet to repeat something to you, then you can have an umbrella cockatoo as a pet.

One of the species of cockatoo, who are very popular is the Moluccan cockatoo.One of the Moluccan cockatoo facts is that they are great at mimicking voices. Therefore, do not be surprised if you find a bird mimicking you. One of the cockatoos, who are seen eating insects, along with the regular diet of vegetables and fruits. They are known to be very aggressive. If they are not properly trained, they may be seen attacking people. They have the loudest call among the different species of cockatoo. If their demands are not met, they have a tendency to scream continuously.

Other than the two species of cockatoo mentioned above, one of the species, which is popular as pets are the sulfur crested cockatoo, lovingly called a bird made of sulfur. They are also known as yellow crested cockatoo. The size of this bird is really large. They have a beautiful crest on their head, which is said to be the most beautiful in the entire bird fraternity. Yellow crested cockatoo have a tendency to ruin wood paneling. They like chewing, therefore, it is best to provide them with a lot of toys. Most people are of the opinion, that they are very noisy birds, therefore keeping them as pets in apartments is not really recommended.

I am sure now you would want to take a cockatoo home. Make sure you have sufficient place in the house for this bird. At the same time, it is important that they be given sufficient attention, else it can be dangerous for them. They no doubt will become an excellent pet for your family.