Umbrella Cockatoo

SCIENTIFIC NAME

Cacatua alba

CLASSIFICATION

Class:	Aves
Order:	Psittaciformes
Family:	Psittacidae
Genus:	Cacatua
Species:	alba

The Umbrella Cockatoo is also known as the White Cockatoo, the Great White Cockatoo, and the White-Crested Cockatoo.

SIZE

Length:	Male:	17-18 inches
	Female:	same
Weight:	Male:	1-1 1/2 pounds
	Female:	same
Wingspan:	Male:	252-312 cm
	Female:	same

APPEARANCE:

The Umbrella Cockatoo is a pure white, medium-sized cockatoo. Its plumage is completely white except for a distinct yellow coloration on the underwings and at the base of the tail. They are the only large cockatoo species with an entirely white crest. Their crest is normally flat on their head. It is raised with alarm, which may include excitement, curiosity and/or fear. The have a rounded, umbrella-shaped crest when raised, thus giving them their name.

The beak is grayish-black, and like all parrots, is large, curved and very powerful. Male Umbrella Cockatoos tend to have dark brown almost black eyes, whereas the females tend to have more reddish eyes. Both sexes have a pale bluish-white eyering. The legs are a dark gray.

RANGE/DISTRIBUTION:

Umbrella Cockatoos are found in Indonesia, in the Moluccan Islands of Batjan, Halmahera, Obi, Ternate and Tidor.

HABITAT/TERRITORY SIZE:

Umbrella Cockatoos typically live in forests and around farmland. They sometimes prefer secondary growth forests and tend to spend a lot of time in the forest canopy.

MIGRATION:

Umbrella Cockatoos are a non-migratory bird.

DIET:

Seeds, fruits, nuts and berries. They use their large, powerful beaks to crack open seeds and nuts. They tend to feed in the tops of large trees, but will occasionally forage in a lower story of the forest to be less conspicuous to predators.

BREEDING INFORMATION:

Umbrella Cockatoos usually choose the hollow of a tall tree to lay their eggs. They usually lay small clutches of 1-2 eggs. They are thought to nest in April and have an incubation period of about 30 days. The male and female take turns sitting on the eggs; and, once hatched, the young may remain in the nest for as long as 2-3 months.

BEHAVIOR:

Like all parrots, Umbrella Cockatoos live in flocks and are extremely social birds. At night, they often gather in groups of 50 or more birds and roost for the night in large trees.

They have a loud, grating screech or scream and may hiss when alarmed. Umbrella Cockatoos are not well known for their exceptional ability to “talk” or mimic sounds, but some may develop quite a vocabulary.

Umbrella Cockatoos are a popular pet. They tend to be very cuddly, affectionate birds that require a lot of attention, more so than other parrots. Like all parrots, they can be very loud, screaming loudly at sunrise, sundown, and for attention. They have a powerful need to chew and can be quite destructive with their beaks if not given enough appropriate things to shred.

STATUS:

The most recent estimate of the world population of Umbrella Cockatoos is a range of 50,000-200,000 birds. Although this seems like their population is quite stable, their population is still vulnerable to factors which affect all parrot species: they are victims of the illegal pet trade, they are shot for food and they are affected by deforestation. Umbrella Cockatoos are common in captivity.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

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