Cockatoos: Everything You Need To Know
Cockatoos are very unique birds and, although they are not strictly considered parrots, they belong to the psittaciformes family, like them, and have many similarities.
Cockatoo or Parrot?
The biggest distinguishing feature of the 21 cockatoo species in relation to the so-called true parrots is their plumage. Cockatoos have erectile feathers, which unfold when they get excited or angry, in addition to courtship.
Although the claws and beaks of parrots and cockatoos are very similar, as far as cockatoos are concerned, most are much lighter in color than true parrots, and white, gray or black predominate in them.
These animals do not make nests, but use holes in trees to nest, so deforestation is one of their main threats: with the felling of trees, they not only lose territory, but also lose places to reproduce.
The feeding of parrots and cockatoos is very similar: these birds eat seeds, bulbs, fruits, flowers and insects, so they gather in groups. Another of the curiosities that cockatoos have is that they are some of the monogamous birds in the animal kingdom.
The unique behavior of cockatoos
As for the behavior of these birds, they are very intelligent animals, just like the real parrots. They have enormous emotional intelligence, which makes them victims of pathologies such as depression, in which the feathers are often insistently plucked.
There is a difference between cockatoos and the rest of parrots on a behavioral level: cockatoos are especially sensitive to music, and it has been proven that they can follow the rhythm of a song and even dance.
But not only that. As incredible as it sounds, cockatoos have been seen percussion in their natural habitat. To do this, cockatoo males pick up sticks and beat the trees as if following a rhythm, so the females choose the most musical male.
where the cockatoos live
This is one of the main differences with parrots: while these birds populate parts of Africa and South America, the cockatoos’ habitat is reduced to Australia and the islands that surround it.
Cockatoos use a wide variety of habitats, as long as there are trees to make their nests. They can inhabit jungles, high mountain forests or mangroves. While some species barely move, others travel hundreds of miles in search of food.
Unfortunately, many of them are considered a pest, taking advantage of human cultures that have displaced their habitat. In urban areas, they often destroy street installations such as antennas and cabling with their powerful nozzles.
Its main threats are the aforementioned deforestation and the trafficking of wild species, due to their use as a pet. Typically, these birds are placed in plastic bottles or other goods and travel in suitcases and then sold illegally in countries like Spain.
