Cockatoos

Guide Note

There are twenty different species of cockatoos that, along with true parrots, make up the Psittaciformes order. Cockatoos are native to Australia and its nearby islands, with eleven species existing in the wild only in Australia. It is illegal to import, export, buy or sell any live caught cockatoo, but most cockatoos can be successfully bred in captivity.

Fast Facts

1. Lifespan: 40-70 years
2. Longest lived of the parrots
3. Live in large social groups
4. Require weekly baths
5. Communicate using loud calls
6. Price range: $500-$2,000
7. Form strong bonds with owners

Like parrots, cockatoos have large curved beaks which they use to crack open nuts and seeds. They also have the same type of feet, specialized for grasping and climbing trees, consisting of two toes pointing forward and two pointing backward.

The cockatoos' most distinguishing feature is the mobile feathered crest on top of their heads. Cockatoos, in general tend to be larger than parrots and have a gall bladder, which parrots lack. Cockatoos are less brightly colored than parrots, and their plumage is usually one solid color, while parrots are often multicolored.