Hey! We are the beautiful White Cockatoos. We are so adorable and are kept as pets in many areas. We are only found in few islands of South east Asia.
Have a look at some important points about us:
- We are first described by German Zoologist Philipp Ludwig Statius Muller in 1776.
- We were once called white parrots, but we are not related to the parrot family in any way.
- We are very wonderful pets. We are very affectionate towards our keepers and bond very closely with them. We are often called Velcro Birds due to this reason and also due to the fact that we cuddle with people.
- Do you know? Our feathers can create a powder similar to talcum powder that can transfer to clothes.
- We might not be good at mimicking like parrots, but we are very acrobatic. We can be trained very easily.
- We are highly intelligent birds and also highly social.
- We were popular from ancient times. We were depicted in Guan Yin during the Tang Dynasty in China.
- The Fourth Crusade between Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II and Sultan of Babylon in 1229 was sealed with a gift of white cockatoo.
SOME QUICK FACTS ABOUT US:
Our Scientific Name: Cacatua Alba.
Identification: White parrot-like birds with very big and white crest.
Our Habitat: mangroves, agricultural lands, plantations, primary and secondary forests.
Our Range:
Food Habits: Omnivorous; feed mainly on berries, seeds, fruits, seeds, roots, insects and insect larvae.
Breeding Period: December to March.
Number of eggs laid: 2-3 eggs.
Incubation period: about 28 days.
Lifespan: 40-60 years in captivity, less in wild.
IUCN red list status: Endangered.
CITES: Appendix II.
Indian Wildlife Protection Act: Schedule IV.
SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Cacatuidae
Genus: Cacatua
Subgenus: Cacatua
Species: C. alba
COMPLETE DETAILS ABOUT US FOR ANIMAL ENTHUSIASTS:
We are also called as Umbrella Cockatoos. Let us tell you more about our species.
We are scientifically called as Cacatua Alba.
HOW WE LOOK:
We are all white cockatoos with a body length of about 46cm and weighing 400gms-800gms. Males and females of our species look almost similar. Males are mostly white with very broad head and bigger beak than the females. We have dark grey beak and black or brown eyes. Our wings are yellowish in color. We have a distinct, very big and white crest. Young ones of our species look similar to adults.
WE ARE FOUND IN:
We prefer living in mangroves, agricultural lands, plantations, primary and secondary forests. Our range only lies in Islands in South-east Asia like Indonesia, Mandioli, Kasiruta, Tidore, Ternate, North Maluku, Bacan, and Halmahera.
WHAT WE EAT:
We are omnivorous birds and mainly feed on berries, seeds, fruits, seeds and roots. We eat insects and insect larvae only when we nest.
OUR REPRODUCTION:
We are monogamous birds meaning we have a single mate for a lifetime. Our breeding season is in between December and March. Males attract females by ruffling feathers, tail feathers, extending wings and erecting the crest. The pair of our species builds its nest in hollows of large trees.
The female lays 2-3 eggs at a time and the incubation period is about 28 days. Both the parents incubate the eggs as well as feed and take care of the young. Our lifespan is expected to be 40-60 years in captivity, but some reports have shown more. It is less in the wild.
MORE ABOUT US:
We might not be good at mimicking like parrots, but we are very acrobatic. We can be trained very easily.
We are highly intelligent birds and also highly social.
Our feathers can create a powder similar to talcum powder that can transfer to clothes.
OUR CONSERVATION:
Our population is in extreme decline due to cage bird trade and habitat loss. We are considered as “Endangered” in the red list of IUCN. We are also listed in CITES Appendix II and protected under Schedule IV of Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
