# Cockatoo (*Cacatua*) Cockatoos are beautiful birds with colorful feathers and a crest on their heads. They are very smart and can mimic sounds they hear in their environment. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Forest - **Also known as:** Cacatua, White Cockatoo ![Cockatoo](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426535/objects/6001.jpg) ## Appearance The Cockatoo is known for its prominent, movable crest feathers that can be raised or lowered to show emotion. They often have striking white, grey, or pink plumage, with touches of yellow or red, and a strong, curved black or grey beak. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Psittaciformes - **Family:** Psittacidae - **Genus:** Cacatua ## Interesting facts - A group of cockatoos is called a "pandemonium" because of their incredibly loud and chaotic calls! - Cockatoos are often left- or right-footed, just like humans are left- or right-handed! - Did you know some cockatoos can live to be over 80 years old? That's older than most humans! - Wild cockatoos have been observed using tools, like sticks, to get food from tiny crevices! ## Special abilities - **Crest Communication:** Cockatoo has a crest that raises and lowers because it helps them show excitement, fear, or anger to others. - **Problem-Solving Beak:** Cockatoo has a powerful, curved beak that helps them crack tough nuts and seeds, and even dismantle objects. - **Voice Mimicry:** Cockatoo can mimic a wide range of sounds and human speech because of their complex vocal cords, helping them communicate. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 30-70 cm - **Wingspan:** 50-100 cm - **Weight:** 0.3-1.2 kg - **Lifespan:** 40-80 years - **Speed:** 50 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 1-4 - **Incubation:** 24-30 days ## Diet & Feeding Cockatoos mostly munch on seeds, nuts, fruits, and flowers, using their strong beaks to crack them open! - **Primary Foods:** seeds, nuts, fruits, flowers, berries, leaf buds - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Brown Goshawk (*Accipiter fasciatus*) — Hunts young and adult cockatoos. - **Eaten by:** Carpet Python (*Morelia spilota*) — Preys on eggs and nestlings. - **Eats:** [River Red Gum](https://www.snappit.app/explore/river-red-gum) (*Eucalyptus camaldulensis*) — Consumes its seeds and flowers. - **Eats:** Macadamia (*Macadamia integrifolia*) — Cracks and eats its nutritious nuts. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Crested](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/crested): Crested describes animals possessing a prominent tuft of feathers, hair, or skin on their head. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Approach cockatoos calmly and avoid sudden movements to not scare them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Cockatoo? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Cockatoo? 30-70 cm ### What is Cockatoo's wingspan? 50-100 cm ### How much does Cockatoo weigh? 0.3-1.2 kg ### How long does Cockatoo live? 40-80 years ### How fast can Cockatoo move? 50 km/h ### What does Cockatoo eat? Cockatoos mostly munch on seeds, nuts, fruits, and flowers, using their strong beaks to crack them open! ### Where is Cockatoo usually found? Forest ## Where to spot - [Sarasota Jungle Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sarasota-jungle-gardens) — Florida, US · Zoo - [Southern Nevada Zoological-Botanical Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/southern-nevada-zoological-botanical-park) — Nevada, US · Zoo ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Cockatoo: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cockatoo)