Umbrella cockatoo: When choosing a cockatoo, the best thing to do is choose one of the most famous in the world: the umbrella cockatoo. But are you really ready to take care of this beautiful parrot?
Umbrella cockatoo habitat
This species, which in some countries is known as the white cockatoo ( Cacatua alba ), is endemic to the islands of Halmahera, Bacan, Ternate, Tidore, Kasiruta and Mandiole in the northern Moluccas of Indonesia.
According to the studies that have been carried out, the population is estimated to be between 42,545-183,129 birds, although this may be false due to an underestimation of the surveys carried out. However, there has also been a rapid decline in this species of cockatoo.
White umbrella cockatoo
The Umbrella Cockatoo is a very beautiful bird in sight. With a size of about 45 centimeters and about 900 grams of weight, it is not the biggest specimen of the species, but the showiest due to the white plumage that covers the whole body.
Their eyes are brown, or black depending on the specimen, with a very dark gray beak. When they were startled, they extended the crest of their head which has a similar shape to an umbrella, which is why some decided to christen it with the umbrella name Cockatoo as well. The inside of the wings and tail are a lemon-yellow tint that flashes when they fly.
His character is generally that of a quiet animal, very kind, and very easy to domesticate. However, some specimens have proven to be quite noisy and very destructive due to their powerful beaks, which is why they gnaw all around them. Although they can reproduce a few words, they do not speak as well as other members of their species and can only learn a few words.
It has visible sexual dimorphism which makes it easy to distinguish males from females. Males have a dark, almost black iris, while females have a reddish-brown iris. Also, the beak of females seems to be smaller.
Umbrella cockatoo as pets
Many people choose to keep this animal as a pet, despite its small peculiarities. But before deciding whether to adopt it or not, there are a few things that need to be clear.
Umbrella cockatoo cage
First, the cage should be made of very strong material, such as stainless steel, to prevent the bird from breaking the bars and gnawing away. The second thing is the locks, very secure because this parrot is smart enough to learn to open a door with a lock without too much trouble and escape the cage when it wants, which could end up being a problem.
In addition, the cage must be large, at least 4x2x2 meters, so you can stretch your wings and double if you are going to live with a partner.
To avoid rotting the bars, it is better to fill the cage with branches and trunks of natural trees, so you will achieve this by trying to use a small beak and you will completely forget that it will destroy the cage. If not, you may need to buy a cage very soon.
Umbrella cockatoo diet
Their diet usually consists mostly of fresh fruits such as bananas, melons, papaya, peaches, apples, or mangoes. But you also need to eat vegetables, such as baked potatoes, carrots, cucumbers, or pumpkins, to get the nutrients you need to live as long as possible.
But you must combine their diet with other foods such as wholemeal bread, sunflower seeds, or eggs. however, always accompanied by a large pelleted food and avoid exceeding the daily amount to avoid suffering from diarrhea or any other illness.
Umbrella cockatoo training
If you are wondering if the animal could come out of its cage to walk around the house, the answer would be yes. It is a bird that, if accustomed to freedom, does not usually cause many problems when moving around the house.
however, keep in mind that he can deceive some of your furniture, so first get him used to this action which is done inside the cage with the branches or trunks in it.
Umbrella cockatoo breeding
As for his offspring, this is nothing that the novice owner can get, because it is quite difficult. To start, we must bring together two cockatoos that have been together since their youth and give them a cage of 6x2x2 meters with a nest of 40x40x100 centimeters of wood, although the most successful is to build a nest in a hollow trunk.
If successful, the female will lay one to two eggs and incubate them for 28 days. Upon birth, cockatoo calves spend three months in the care of their parents before leaving the nest for the first time and beginning to feed on their own, at which time they may be transferred to another cage.
Remember that this is a rather playful type of bird, so you will have to decide that it will enjoy playing inside and outside of its cage. Plus, since he’s a pretty smart bird, it’s no problem if you decide to teach him a little trick, like how to land on your arm or how to answer your call when your parrot is out of the cage.
Umbrella cockatoo singing
SOURCE: African Grey Parrot Pet