Cockatoo

A cockatoo is any of the 21 parrot species belonging to the family Cacatuidae, the only family in the superfamily Cacatuoidea. Along with the Psittacoidea (true parrots) and the Strigopoidea (large New Zealand parrots), they make up the order Psittaciformes. The family has a mainly Australasian distribution, ranging from the Philippines and the eastern Indonesian islands of Wallacea to New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Australia.

Cockatoos are recognisable by the prominent crests and curved bills. Their plumage is generally less colourful than that of other parrots, being mainly white, grey or black and often with coloured features in the crest, cheeks or tail. On average they are larger than other parrots; however, the cockatiel, the smallest cockatoo species, is a small bird. The phylogenetic position of the cockatiel remains unresolved, other than that it is one of the earliest offshoots of the cockatoo lineage. The remaining species are in two main clades. The five large black coloured cockatoos of the genus Calyptorhynchus form one branch. The second and larger branch is formed by the genus Cacatua, comprising 11 species of white-plumaged cockatoos and four monotypic genera that branched off earlier; namely the pink and white Major Mitchell's cockatoo, the pink and grey galah, the mainly grey gang-gang cockatoo and the large black-plumaged palm cockatoo.

Cockatoos prefer to eat seeds, tubers, corms, fruit, flowers and insects. They often feed in large flocks, particularly when ground-feeding. Cockatoos are monogamous and nest in tree hollows. Some cockatoo species have been adversely affected by habitat loss, particularly from a shortage of suitable nesting hollows after large mature trees are cleared; conversely, some species have adapted well to human changes and are considered agricultural pests.

Cockatoos are popular birds in aviculture, but their needs are difficult to meet. The cockatiel is the easiest cockatoo species to maintain and is by far the most frequently kept in captivity. White cockatoos are more commonly found in captivity than black cockatoos. Illegal trade in wild-caught birds contributes to the decline of some cockatoo species in the wild.

The word cockatoo dates from the 17th century and is derived from Dutch kaketoe, which is from Malay kakaktua. Seventeenth-century variants include cacato, cockatoon and crockadore, and cokato, cocatore and cocatoo were used in the eighteenth century.[3][4] The derivation has also been used for the family and generic names Cacatuidae and Cacatua, respectively.[5]

In Australian slang or vernacular speech, a person who is assigned to keep watch while others undertake clandestine or illegal activities, particularly gambling, may be referred to as a "cockatoo".[6] Proprietors of small agricultural undertakings are often jocularly or slightly disparagingly referred to as "cocky farmers".[7]

Closeup of head of black-plumaged cockatoo with bare red skin on its face. It has a large beak, which is open with its tongue visible.
The palm cockatoo has a strong bill and red cheeks. At 55–60 cm (22–24 in) long and weighing 910–1,200 g (2.01–2.65 lb), it is the largest cockatoo.[31]
A mainly black cockatoo perched on a left hand on a sunny day. The cockatoo has a ring on its right leg. The Sydney Harbour Bridge is in the distance
Carnaby's black cockatoo with a zoo keeper at Taronga Zoo Sydney, Australia
A pink and white coloured cockatoo with a raised crest flying against a background of blue sky
Major Mitchell's cockatoo flying at Taronga Zoo Sydney.
A captive sulphur-crested cockatoo displaying its crest in the U.S.
A pair of gang-gang cockatoos in NSW, Australia (male with red head feathers). Cockatoos make lasting pair bonds.
A white cockatoo's left foot clasping aviary bars showing claws, scaly skin and zygodactyly—the middle two toes forward and the outer two toes backward.
The Tanimbar corella is restricted to the islands of Tanimbar in Indonesia; a few feral escapees are found in Singapore.
Watercolour and gouache sketch by Henry Stacy Marks
Hand-reared white cockatoo chicks bred for sale as pets.
Wild long-billed corellas in Perth. The bird on the right is using its long beak to dig for food in short grass.
A sulphur-crested cockatoo visiting a balcony in eastern Sydney for bird seeds
Sulphur-crested cockatoos damaging the Sturt Mall shopping centre facade, made of polystyrene
The red-vented cockatoo is a critically endangered species endemic to the Philippines.[94]
The blue-eyed cockatoo is a vulnerable species endemic to New Britain.[95]
A wing-clipped pet. Salmon-crested cockatoos, also known as Moluccan cockatoos,[104] are the largest white-coloured cockatoo species at about 52 cm (20 in) long and weighing 775–935 grams.[105] Cockatoos can be noisy and demanding pets.
A pet cockatiel. This parrot is about 32 cm (13 in) long and is by far the smallest and lightest cockatoo.
Dutch still life with cockatoo, circa 1640