Popular Cockatoos That Are Kept as Pets

When I think of a Cockatoo, an image of a large white parrot with yellow feathers popping out of his head comes into my mind. This is one type of Cockatoo, but did you know that the list of Cockatoo species is actually pretty extensive? All together, there are over 40 different species of in the Cockatoo family.

Photo via B Campbell

I had an idea for this post, mostly because I love Cockatoos. They are one of my favorite types of birds. I've never kept a Cockatoo as a pet before, but have worked with many different types at the veterinary hospital. Compared to other pet birds, they are very sweet and loving. Especially with their owners. The bond between a Cockatoo and his person is usually very strong.


So strong, it can sometimes cause problems. Cockatoos are susceptible to a condition known as "feather plucking". This is when a bird plucks their own feather out. Why do they do it? It could be due to any number of reasons, either health or behavior related depending on the individual bird. It's usually not easy to cure either.

One time, a man brought his Cockatoo into our veterinary office for feather plucking. You could just see how much this Cockatoo loved her man. While we had to rule out medical reasons for the feather plucking, the veterinarian believed that the reason behind her condition was because she loved her man so much and wanted to be his mate. Of course, this was impossible since she was a bird and he was a human. I felt bad for her. It's amazing what these animals are capable of. I truly believe they have the capacity for emotion.

Many Cockatoos will begin feather plucking if they become bored and aren't given enough social time with their owners. That's why people who want to keep a Cockatoo as a pet really need to be prepared to spend a lot of time with them for many years to come. Some Cockatoos can live to be between 40-60 years old.

Now on to the list of popular Cockatoos species that are kept as pets.

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

This was the Cockatoo I described above. They are fairly large birds with a very curious demeanor. There are several variations of the Sulphur-crested also. I love the way their voice sounds.

In 2009, scientists found that Sulpher-crested Cockatoos are able to synchronize their movements to a musical beat. Take Snowball, for example. Scientists have documented 17 different dance moves in his routine. 

We don't know many bird bloggers, but there is one Sulphur-crested Cockatoo whom we really admire. His name is Leo from the blog Cascadian Nomads. 

Galah Cockatoo

This species is also known as the Rose-breasted Cockatoo. I unfortunately have never met one in person before. They also have the ability to learn to speak very well and have a fun personality. As with most Cockatoos, the Galah likes to chew and destroy so toys are a must! They have some exceptionally gorgeous pink feathers. 

Photo via GrrlScientist

Goffin's Cockatoo

These Cockatoos are a little more compact than other Cockatoo species, but they are also super affectionate! I'd love to have a Goffin's Cockatoo one day, but I definitely don't have the time to commit to one right now. They are said to be a little less demanding and noisy than other species of Cockatoos. 

Photo via Eric Bryan

Umbrella Cockatoo

These birds look very similar to Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, but do not have the yellow crests on their heads. Instead, their crest is all white. These birds are very intelligent and social, but also very noisy and require a lot of attention and social interaction. They can also be destructive. They can live to be over 40 years old in captivity. 

Photo via Juan Tello 

Moluccan Cockatoo

These Cockatoos are also called Salmon-crested Cockatoos and are very large. Because they are endangered in the wild, it is illegal for wild-captured birds to be sold. Unfortunately, I did meet a rescue Moluccan once who was wild-caught. She was about 30 years old and had some real issues with stress and feather plucking. Let's just say that this girl had a very loud screech on her! 

I also have been bitten by a Moluccan Cockatoo before, also with feather plucking issues. This guy was nice to me sometimes, but other times he didn't trust me. Which is understandable. I wouldn't trust the vet tech either. He got me pretty good on my thumb while I was trying to catch him in a towel for an exam one day.  

Photo by Sham Edmond

There are so many other types of Cockatoos out there, and this list really only touches the surface. These are just some of the more popular ones that I've seen before. Which one is your favorite?