
One of the benefits of living in a large, noisy flock is that there is always another bird close by to watch your back! When feeding, cockatoos depend on fellow cockatoo "sentinels" that sit close to the feeding flock and keep an eye open for potential danger, usually a bird of prey.
SULFUR CRESTED COCKATOO SCREAMING CRACK
They are also fed a variety of seeds and nuts such as peanuts, walnuts, and pecans, all with shells still on so the birds can crack them open, just like they would in their native habitat. It is not uncommon to find cockatoos eating the seeds of grasses and cultivated crops because of this, farmers consider them pests in some areas.Īt the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, our cockatoos eat pellets made for parrots, and fruits and veggies such as apples, papayas, carrots, and yams. Flocks can number in the dozens to thousands of birds. They utilize rainforest, scrublands, eucalyptus grove, forest, mangrove, and open country.ĭining together. Cockatoos gather in large, noisy flocks-which sometimes include two or three different types of cockatoo-to feed on berries, seeds, nuts, and roots. Either way, it is a unique behavior in the bird world.īird range. Cockatoos live in Australia, New Guinea, Indonesia, Solomon Islands, and the Philippines. The drumming sound probably serves as a territory announcement, or it could be that drumming reinforces the bond between a mated pair. Then, holding the twig in one foot, the bird bangs it repeatedly against the hollow section of one of the trees it nests in. Hand me that wrench. While a number of wildlife use tools, palm cockatoos are among the few that actually make a tool by breaking a carefully selected stick to just the right size. That loud voice is a great adaptation for living in thick, dark forests, helping each bird communicate with others over long distances, even though they are out of sight.

Shhhh. Cockatoos are LOUD and noisy! They are arguably the loudest of all the parrots and scream to communicate with one another, or just for the sheer joy of making noise. Some birds roost in a nest or tree hollow, others in the thick foliage of a tree.Ĭapable, strong flyers, some cockatoos often “play” with each other, performing intricate aerial maneuvers or crazy antics, such as hanging upside down while perched, just for the “fun” of it! These activities may serve as a form of exercise for the birds, and they do seem to strengthen social bonds. They fly by day only, feeding and resting before returning to their home roosts for the night. We can fly! Cockatoos are nomadic in their movements, traveling in small groups or huge flocks to areas with an abundant food supply, often in connection with the seasons. These birds are also able to hold their food in one foot while balancing on the other! It’s hard to fly through dense, leafy branches, and even tougher to get to the fruit or nuts that are their primary foods, but because cockatoos can climb through tree branches so well, they can easily get to the treats they want. This, along with the use of their beak, gives them the ability to use their feet much like we use our hands and helps make them terrific climbers! Having the ability to climb is a necessity for birds that live and nest in thick forests.

The powder helps to protect their feathers and keep them clean.Ĭoordinated cockatoos. Like all parrots, cockatoos are zygodactyl. In other parrots, the presence of this texture produces color by the way it reflects light.Ĭockatoos also do not have oil glands, but they do produce a fine powder that is the result of the breakdown of special downy feathers.

This is caused by the lack of a special texture, known as Dyck texture, in their feathers. In black and white. Cockatoos differ from other parrots not only because of their crest, which can be raised by the bird when needed, but also because they are mostly black or white (with a few notable exceptions, such as the gray and pink galah). They can also live in the lower slopes of mountain areas as well as mangroves and open country lands, to feed on grass seeds. They are found in Australia and the smaller island countries to the north and west, and they live in forested areas of all types, from eucalyptus groves to pine forests and rainforests. Getting to know you. With their perky crest and natural curiosity, cockatoos are among the most well-known and loved members of the parrot family.
