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The Cockatoo and CockatielWhen we use the term, Cockatoo (Cacatuidae), we are talking about a family of parrots characterized among Old World forms by their usually greater size, by the crest of feathers on the head, which can be raised or depressed at will, and by the absence of green in their coloration.While readily available from bird breeders and pet outlets, and popular as pet birds, in the wild, Cockatoos are found in the Indian Archipelago, New Guinea and Australia. They are popular pet birds because they are gregarious in the wild or in the home. In their native habitats, they prefer to frequent woods and feed on a diet of seeds, fruits and the larvae of insects. Not songsters, their calls are generally harsh and unmusical. Although they are readily tamed when taken young, becoming familiar, and in some species showing remarkable intelligence, their powers of vocal imitation are usually pretty limited. If you want a talker, get a parrot. Of the true cockatoos (Cacatua), probably the best known is the sulfur-crested cockatoo (Cacatua galerita). This Cockatoo has pure white plumage with the exception of the crest, which is deep sulfur yellow, and of the ear and tail coverts (feathers which cover other feathers), which are slightly tinged with yellow. When erect, the crest of a Cockatoo stands about 5 in. high. Cockatoos are found in the wild in Australia in flocks varying from 100 to 1000 in number, and are sometimes considered a nuisance as they do great damage to newly-sown grain. For this reason they were mercilessly destroyed by farmers in the past. ,br> They deposit their eggs, generally two in number, and of a pure white color, in the hollows of decayed trees or in the fissures of rocks, depending on locality in which they reside. This is one of the species most usually kept in Europe as a cage bird. Leadbeater’s Cockatoo (Cacatua Leadbeateri), an inhabitant of South Australia, is considered the most beautiful because of its plumage, which consists in great part of white, tinged with rose color, becoming a deep salmon color under the wings, while the crest is bright crimson at the base, with a yellow spot in the center and white at the tip. Among cockatoos belonging to the genus Calyptorhynchus, the plumage is generally black or dark brown, usually with a large spot or band of red or yellow on the tail. The largest of these is known as the funereal cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus), from its sad and dismal call which it utters, resembling the syllables Wy-la, which is the native name for this species. This Cockatoo deposits its eggs in the hollows of the large gum-trees of Australia, and feeds largely on the larvae of insects, which it finds by peeling off the bark of trees. When busy at this task, it may be approached closely. The Cockatiel (Calopsittacus novaehollandiae), is the only species in the family smaller than a pigeon. The Cockatiel has a long pointed tail, and is a popular pet bird which breeds freely in captivity. Simply follow the links along the left side of this page to find more information about how to take care of a pet bird. Donovan Baldwin |
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Pet Birds: Cockatoos and Cockatiels - Copyright 2013
Page Updated 6:08 PM Wednesday 6/5/2013
