Cacatuas or cockatoos are popular pets for their colorful crest and charming personalities.
However, few know about these birds besides their distinctive appearance and loud squawks.
This article provides insights into these intelligent creatures, such as their origins of the name, intellectual capabilities, dietary requirements, and average lifespans.
Though cacti require much attention and care to thrive, their playful characters and communication capacity make them appealing companions.
For prospective owners, understanding these parrots’ needs can help better care for and bond with them.
- [su_animate type=”fadeInLeft” duration=”1.5″] So, let’s dive into the details![/su_animate]
| WHY ARE THEY CALLED COCKATOOS?
Did you know why this parrot got the name “cockatoo”?
Well, this word is taken from the Malay word known as “kakak tua,” which represents “older sibling” or “elderly sister.”
Now, the question is why this name is given to this bird.
So, the only reason this name was given to this bird is because of its unique crest, which represents the traditional hairstyle of older women in South Asian cultures.
Eventually, the name “kakatua” became the cockatoo and became widely spread in English, which refers to this particular group of birds with crest.
| DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CACATUA AND COCKATOOS?
Basically, “Cacatua” is not a bird. It is a breed of bird that belongs to a “cacatuidae.”
The birds that belong to the “cacatuidae’ family are commonly known as the “Cockatoos.”
- So, People use both of them because they are interchangeable and represent the same group.
| IS A COCKATOO A SMART BIRD?
Yes, Cockatoos are considered brilliant birds!
They possess sharp minds and creative instincts, making them masters of problem-solving and mimicry.
These feathered parrot geniuses will astonish you with their wit and captivate you with their vibrant personalities.
You are gonna amazed by the brilliance of these remarkable creatures as they showcase their noteworthy intelligence and charm.
Cockatoos are a true testament to the extraordinary abilities of birds.
| IS A CACATUA A PARROT OR IS A COCKATOO A PET?
Yes, Cacatua is a type of parrot.
You can also keep Cockatoos as pets. They are lively, affectionate, and friendly birds that quickly bond closely with humans.
People love them because of their distinctive crest of feathers on the top side of their heads that stands erect whenever they feel alarmed or excited.
[su_quote]However, if you decide to own a cockatoo, it requires a lot more attention and care, as cactus demand attention and needs an owner who can provide them with plenty of social interaction.[/su_quote]
| WHAT DOES A COCKATOO EAT?
Now, I assume that you decided to adopt a Cacatua.
Now you are fretting about the best diet for my feathered friend.
Well, Cockatoos require a balanced diet consisting of seeds and vegetables.
You can also give them some fruits, nuts, proteins, cooked rice, and spices.
In the wild lifestyle, their main diet consists of seeds, fruits, nuts, berries, flowers, and vegetation, which also depends on food availability during different seasons.
Some wild cacti will even eat insects, and flies such as other birds also eat Cicadas, and cockatoo also eats their larvae.
Their favorite foods are apples, cucumber, blueberries, sunflower seeds, almonds, cooked chicken or turkey, and cooked fish.
We should be fed a base diet of pellets or complete food Cockatoos are in captivity, so, It is essential to keep their diet as varied as possible.
| DO COCKATOOS LAY EGGS?
Yes, cockatoos lay eggs.
Did you know? Cacatua can lay eggs without a mate, which can happen if the environment stimulates the bird.
In the wild, a cockatoo would only lay eggs once a year.
If a female cockatoo keeps laying eggs, it may need to be taken to an avian vet for a hormone shot or injection.
Cockatoo eggs are white. The white cockatoo, for example, lays white eggs and usually has a clutch of two eggs.
The color of bird eggs is determined by pigments deposited as the eggs move through the oviduct.
Did you see the birds that lay light blue eggs?
| ARE COCKATOOS FRIENDLY? DO COCKATOOS LOVE HUMANS?
Cockatoos are friendly and affectionate birds that frequently bond closely with humans.
Cacatua requires a lot of attention, so this is the main problem why it is not suitable for those who are first-time buying a pet.
Because they do not have any idea how to deal with the pets, they have to care for a lot of cockatoos, manage their diet, and a lot more.
They also need much time outside their cages and tend to squeal and scream.
But some cockatoos can be cuddly and affectionate, while others can be aggressive once they become sexually mature.
You have to be very careful that cockatoos are not toys, and you can’t be treated them as such.
| CAN YOU KISS A COCKATOO?
Well, I don’t want to recommend kissing a cockatoo because it can transmit diseases to the bird and the human.
So, it can be dangerous for both of you.
| CAN COCKATOOS FLY?
Yes, Cacatua can quickly fly; they have a speed of nearly 43mph.
The speed of any bird generally depends upon the wing size of the bird.
They can quickly get this fast speed because of their swift broad wings, which provide them enough force to go high.
| HOW FAST CAN A COCKATOO FLY?
Cacatua is not the fastest bird in the world, but it has a decent speed.
The fastest speed that is recorded in Cacatua is 70 km/h.
| HOW MANY DAYS DO COCKATOOS LIVE?
Cockatoos can live for a long time, depending on what they eat, whether wild or pets.
If cockatoos live well, they usually chill with us for 50 to 70 years.
Cockatoos living out in the wild usually only make it to 20 to 40 years, but they stick around a lot longer as pets.
The biggest cockatoos, like Moluccan, can live up to 70 or 75 years.
The huge cockatoos typically live 20 to 80 years or sometimes even hit 100! Smaller cockatiels usually live 25 years.
| VIDEO OF A DANCING CACATUA PARROT
| CONCLUSION
In conclusion, cockatoos are remarkable, and social birds that form close bonds with their owners.
Though they live up to 70-80 years, it is a promise that should not be taken lightly; their need for large cages, varied diets, and regular interaction means they are high-maintenance pets.
However, cockatoos can be extremely rewarding for those willing to put in the effort.
Their intelligence enables them to develop strong connections with humans, where they display animated personalities and pick up words or phrases.
While cockatoos may not be suitable as a first bird due to demands on time and resources, they are endearing animals that bring much joy and laughter into their owners’ lives.
We love to know your thoughts in the comment section!
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