Cockatoos are very affectionate and enjoy human companionship. They are intelligent birds and some of them can even be trained to mimic human speech. Most Cockatoos are white in color. But you also have the grays, pinks, blacks, and even deep blues among them. Some of the Cockatoos have spectacular crests. Their bills are large, curved and pointed and are used to crack nuts. Most Cockatoos feed on fruits, vegetables, and roots. In some parts of the world, these Cockatoos are considered agricultural pests. The average lifespan of a Cockatoo is between 40 and 60 years.

However, there have been reports of some of them living over 100 years. INTRODUCTION The largest species of the Cockatoo is the Great Black or Palm cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus). This bird is found in Australia and New Guinea. It is approximately 63 cm long, with black plumage and patches of bright red on its cheeks. The smallest cockatoo is the Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) endemic to central Australia. It is only about 30 cm long with gray plumage and a yellow head. Why is the Cockatoo such a great pet? Cockatoos are great companion birds and develop a very strong bond with their owner. They are loving and affectionate, and at the same time, playful and destructive. They are known for their cuddly personality and love to be held. The behavior of Cockatoos is similar to that of dogs; these creatures will sit still for hours if you keep scratching them.

Cockatoos aren't one-person pets as some believe, and if raised well, they are a joy to have around the house. Training sessions each day, unconditional love, patience and research are required. You can teach them several tricks and you will be amazed by INTRODUCTION their intelligence. But a badly raised Cockatoo can be an absolute nightmare. Cockatoos enjoy freedom and like to be out of the cage as much as possible. They become bored easily and may resort to feather picking. They enjoy company and should not be kept as a pet if you do not have time for them and are away from home all day.

You can have a lot of fun training them to whistle tunes and talk and do all sorts of tricks. Wild Cockatoos live in flocks. So, it would be a good idea to have more than one bird at home, but you should probably get two males or two females so that they do not breed. Breeding Cockatoos should be left to professionals as these birds require behavioral training at six weeks of age, when hand-rearing begins. Before you buy a Cockatoo, you should be aware of what is involved in rearing one, in terms of time, effort and money. It's a life-longGang-gang Cockatoos commitment considering the bird's lifespan.

INTRODUCTION What are the major cockatoo species? There are 22 species of cockatoos, most of which are in the genus Cacatua. A list of these species is given below: Probosciger aterrimus Palm Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus banksii Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus lathami Glossy Black Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus funereus Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus latirostris Short-billed Black Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus baudinii Long-billed Black Cockatoo Callocephalon fimbriatum Gang-gang Cockatoo Eolophus roseicapillus Galah Cacatua tenuirostris Long-billed Corella Cacatua pastinator Western Corella Cacatua sanguinea Little Corella Cacatua leadbeateri Major Mitchell's Cockatoo INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION Cacatua galerita Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Cacatua sulphurea Lesser Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Cacatua sulphurea citroncristata Citron-crested Cockatoo Cacatua ophthalmica Blue-eyed Cockato Cacatua moluccensis Moluccan Cockatoo Cacatua alba Umbrella Cockatoo Cacatua haematuropygia Red-vented Cockatoo Cacatua goffini Goffin's Cockatoo Cacatua ducorpsii Ducorp's Cockatoo Nymphicus hollandicus Cockatiel Distribution Habitat Physical Description The Blue-eyed Cockatoos are native to the forests of New Britain, New Ireland, and the Bismarck Archipelago.