bird of the day: sulphur-crested cockatoo

the sulphur-crested cockatoo is a large parrot native to parts of australia, new guinea, and indonesia. (they have also been established in perth, singapore, new zealand, and hawai’i.)

the sulphur-crested cockatoo tends to live in flocks. sulphur-crested cockatoos are mainly ground-feeding birds, which puts them at risk for predators. for this reason, one bird stays as a ‘lookout’ in a nearby tree to alert others.

sulphur-crested cockatoos lay 2-3 eggs in a nesting cavity lined with wood chips. babies fledge at 9-12 weeks of age, but remain with the parents for several more months.

due to their sometimes destructive behavior, they can be considered an agricultural pest. cockatoos will feed off of fruit crops, young trees, and even sometimes chew on buildings. they are also known for being incredibly noisy, so for some people who live in their range, they are an annoyance.

despite their bad reputation with some people, the sulphur-crested cockatoo is popular in aviculture. they are known for being highly intelligent, social birds that can learn to mimic words very well. however, the downside to their social nature and intelligence is that they are prone to being vocal when they are not receiving enough attention, and are also prone to feather plucking if they do not receive enough stimulation. unfortunately, this means that cockatoos are very frequently rehomed.

luckily, despite some threats to their habitat, capture for the pet trade, and permitted culls due to their status as an agricultural pest, the sulphur-crested cockatoo is rated least concern by the iucn. let’s hope it stays this way and this beautiful, smart bird is around for many years to come.

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