Goffin's Cockatoo

Family: CacatuidaeCacatua goffiniPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough

   The Goffin's Cockatoo are known to be clowns, and are extremely playful!

Goffin's Cockatoos often have the peculiar habit of putting things on their backs, or tossing them over their heads. They will hop straight up and down and love to dance. Acrobatic tricks often become second nature to them.

   To learn more about Cockatoos and their needs visit:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Cockatoo

Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Psittaciformes Family: Cacatuidae Genus: Cacatua Species: goffini

Scientific name:Cacatua goffini

Distribution:    Goffins are native to the Tenimber islands of Indonesia.

Description:    Goffin's Cockatoos are a smaller cockatoo that is white with pink highlights in front of the eyes and on the breast. They are one of the better talkers among the cockatoos. They are easy to teach all kinds of tricks. Cockatoos in general are a very loving type of bird that needs a lot of attention from their owners. Buy a cockatoo only if you can spend a lot of time with it.

Care and feeding:   A cage of at least 20" x 20" is required unless the bird is to be let out for extended periods. Many birds can spend most of their time on a play pen or parrot perch. They eat a variety of seeds, nuts, fruits, and commercial pellets, as well as the same nutritional foods humans eat. The Rose-breasted Cockatoo should be fed a less oily diet (sunflower seeds and other oily seeds) than other cockatoos since they can develop fatty tumors known as lipomas.

   See About Cockatoos: Housing and About Cockatoos: Care and Feeding for more information.

Size - Weight:    The Goffin's are the smallest of the cockatoos. Mature birds are about 22.5 cm (9 inches) in length.

Social Behaviors:    Wild Cockatoos are friendly and peaceful. They live together in flocks of 20 or more birds.

Breeding/Reproduction:    See About Cockatoos: Breeding for Cockatoo breeding information.

Sexual differences:    Hard to tell with young birds. As they get older the females' eyes will develop a lighter brown color, the males' eyes will remain black.

Potential Problems:    Cockatoos can be quite loud screechers. The behaviour can be reduced by giving attention and proper surroundings. Also, since they are prone to chewing, if they are not given enough attention they will chew their own feathers.

Availability:    These birds are readily available and are inexpensive for a cockatoo.

Activities: Loves to climb and play and chew. Provide lots of toys.

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Joanne - 2013-06-07 I have had my goffin Cockatoo for 2 years now. Its seems that he is screaming more than usual these days. He was also rescued from a lady who was going to leave him go lose because she was having a baby. I recently got a kitten who is six months old. Do you feel that he is screaming more because of the kitten? Does his food need to be changed or something else? I have tried all kinds of toys too. Any help would be appreciated? Clarice Brough - 2013-06-07 The kitten could be causing the disruption. These birds are so very needy socially, that anything that takes attention away from them is a big deal. A more extreme example, I've known cockatoos that went absolutely nuts when their loving, devoted keeper had the audascity to have a baby. They simply don't understand, and become extremely jealous.  In your case the kitten is possibly causing this, and it will be at risk if the bird is out unattended when its around. So be watchful. It could be something else, but I would look at this new friend of yours as the most likely! Reply

Terra Baker - 2008-12-01 Hi all you Goffins lovers. I have a 4 year old male Goffins. I got him at a bird show when he was quite young and he was parrot raised so he wasn't real people orientated. People just kept holding him and cuddling and you could see he was scared, but when I finally decided to hold him he went right under my hair and started to play with it and give me kisses. That was it, I bought him and home we went. It took a few weeks for him to get used to me putting my hands in his cage to get him. I literally had to pry him out and then just cuddle and talk to him. Now a few years later he loves me to death, he talks to me, dances, and sings. If I am sitting on the couch he climbs down from his playstand and climbs up the couch to visit and play. He is so funny. I love all my birds but he holds a special place in my heart. So if you decide a Goffins is for you then you will not be disappointed in him but as people have said they are escape artists and they will chew up anything. So be prepared, and as big a cage as you can get is the best. Mine is in a macaw cage. He is very active, so this way he has lots of room to jump around. Terra, Kermie (Eclectus). Geromino (Goffins). and Miso ( African Grey), all from chicago. KNinVA - 2013-03-13 Hi Terra. I totally agree with you. My Goffin loves to cuddle and play AND DESTROY Toys....but they are supposed to. The downside of this is it is costly. For those of you thinking about getting a Goffin - I spend about $100 every two weeks just on toys! I'm now starting to purchase toy parts and make my own because it is costly.....be prepared...these little guys need lots of stimulus and a daily does of destruction!!! Reply

Penny - 2004-08-04 You could not ask for a more fun loving, busy little bird. I have had Chloe for 4 years now,( she was a rescue bird). And I would not trade her for the world! She is sweet, loving, happy go lucky, center of attention, spoiled lil brat. She cries for attention, but knows I will not give in to her every whim. She has tons of toys and plays with every one of them. Her favorate thing to do is string beads! She will string beads for hours, and I spend hours picking them all up and stringing them for her so she can start all over again, destring and string. She is a Blast. KNinVA - 2013-03-13 Great idea! thanks for the tip.... Reply

Libba - 2006-09-30 I just recently got a cockatoo, the blue eyed kind. She is now 9months old. I also have a quaker, indian ring neck and two love birds. Angel my cockatoo is the sweetest bird, she had learned within days of having her how to say mommy, I love you, give kisses, and I am working on teaching her more words. She has a stand and a large cage. She is held by me, and my two 8 year old daughters. I do put her on her stand and her cage so she is not being held all day. I have learned that is bad for her and can harm her. In don't want her used to being held all day then putting her up and having her hurt herself out of depression. Angel has never bitten anyone in my family, she is so loving ans sweet, she has the funniest personality, she loves to dance and show off her feathers. She loves to go outside with me, I just got her a harness for extra protection. I just recently had to take her to the vet ER, she broke a major blood feather, so please on the young ones watch their blood feathers. they are still babies, clumsly and can die fast if their blood feather is broken. if you do not have the Styptic powder you can use flour until you can get your cockatoo to a vet. The best thing is to have the blood feather pulled, because there is a good chance they will continue to hurt it. I am so glad Angel picked me when I went to the pet store, I can't imagine my life without her and I find the cockatoo is one of the most beautiful, smart, outgoing and silliest birds out there. Just please make sure you have time for them before you buy them, they are cuddle bugs and do need extra love and attention. I am disabled and believe me the love you get in return is worth the extra time and effort, you have just found a best friend for life. Thanks, Libba Cynthia Orsburn-Lopez - 2013-01-20 I have a cockatiel.. I would love to buy more birds.. I've seen in pictures that there are birds all different size get along well.. I'd like to know if it's hard to get all the birds to get along and is it safe for then to share cage? Paulette - 2013-02-06 Oh, I totally agree, for I too, own a Goffin's Cockatoo! They are extremely sweet, but yet, extremely needed little bundles of love! It takes a special owner to own one of these God's creatures! You have to hold these birds, but yet, not too much, for they will become depressed and turn to feather destruction. So, a nice balancing act of affection and alone time is required each and everyday of these bird's lives! I own 15 lovebirds and just one little girl Goffin, who will be a year old in April 2013. I, too, am disabled and have ample time for all my birds. The lovebirds and cockatoo do NOT get along at all!!! Each one is jealous of the other! Heck, the lovebirds are jealous of each other, as well, not at just the cockatoo!!! But, you do NOT for any reason, what to allow these two different birds, any time alone with each other, for the little lovebird will be killed instantly! My live is so much better with my babies in it! I honestly, do not know what I'd do without my loving babies!! Thank you, Lord, for bringing each of them into my life! I hand raised each and every one of the lovebirds from eggs, so they are so, so, sweet!! Still, today, I have to hand feed my goffin twice a day, but I'm working on weaning her little by little, with less and less hand formula. She sits and cries constantly, each and every morning, until she gets her nice, hot, food, fed by her mommie!! What a life! I honestly, would not change a thing.... Reply

Anonymous - 2012-02-01 I have a 10 month old goffin and I was told to start teaching her tricks and how to speak. She is very hyper most of the time and I really don't know how to teach her to talk or do tricks. I've gotten her favorite seeds as treats, but she will either just go for the seeds or lose interest and do her own thing. Help? Charlie Roche - 2012-02-01 AHH it is sooo very ,much easier to let the goffin train the human - honest. Let's start with some really easy stuff. When your feathered one comes up on your hand say 'UP'. When you just sorta grab her beak and plant a kiss on the beak say 'Kiss' When you tickle scratch under her wing - just gently pull it out (extend it) and say 'PRETTY' I would say 'I am a bird I fly high, I am a bat I lay down' and I would raise my bird really high above my head and then lower it down on its back. Put words to the things your feathered companion does naturally. You can bop 'UP and DOWN' in a beat and she will learn to bop 'UP and DOWN' in rhythm - think country with a good bass works best for this. Start just putting words to the things she does naturally, then show her new behaviors. Remember, she is just 10 months - still really a baby. I found that most birds aren't all that receptive to actually training before 1 - 1/2 years but putting words to their actions just like you would a human child - works great. Let them train you - definitely works best. You will learn. She also does not associated her treats wityh a behavior. It is too soon - just put the words to her actions first. (NO TREAT) and when you know she has that one thing down - then say the 'Command' and give her a treat. No treats for regular obediance though such as 'UP' 'DOWN' 'POTTY' You wouldn't give a child a treat for those things - right. A feathered friend is a 3 year old human dressed in feathers but yours is just 10 months old. Mary - 2013-05-06 Goffins cockatoo's don't usually talk. I've never seen one that did. I had one for over 23 years. I would talk to her and she'd listen. She liked to scream and try to ram the other bird she saw in my mirrored walls. She became best friends with my female chihuahua when she was a pup. My goffins did not like people. She was a mature hen when I got her and needed medical intervention immediately to save her life. She lived a long time with me. I didn't trim her wings. I allowed her to fly freely throughout my condo. She ate my vertical blinds, tryed to nest in three couches and ate any plants I tried to keep indoors. She also ate my floor boards,furniture, kitchen cabinets and electrical wires till I started to lock her in her cage when I left my unit. It was hard but we found ways to get along. A squirt gun works great when trying to get her to settle down. I think she liked it. Water mist is helpfull to a cockatoo so that they can cleam up. So is a large water bowl. Also, loved to shred apples hanging on a spiked metal toy in her cage. Small PVC pipe can be fitted over your electrical wires, even use elbow joints at table edges so the bird can't chew the wires. a replacement electircal plug can be reinstalled at the end of the wire after the pipe is installed over it. Her name was Kiwi. I thought of getting another, but another bird might be afraid of my dogs. I have three of them. She used to dive bomb my boys (dogs) because she felt they were not freindly enough. She used to walk pigeon toed into my bedrooom in the mornings, looking for the dogs. She was content to sit on the edge of the bed an take a p**p. Kiwi decided where she wanted to sit. I just accomadated her. She was wonderful. I will miss her for a long time. Reply

Olivia - 2013-04-07 I am thinking of selling my goffin cockatoo he has became to much work for me. Between school and homework I don't have enough time for him. how would he do if I sell him? would he adapt well since I have had him for a few years? Clarice Brough - 2013-04-08 You could sell him yourself, or consign him with your local pet store. In either case it helps to have the prospective owner spend some time with the bird. This helps them make sure they really want the bird, that the bird likes them, and that they are prepared to give it a proper home. The better the match, the easier it is for a bird to adjust. Brent Trehern - 2013-04-17 Cockatoos, especially Goffins, are a mystery unto themselves. How he was raised will greatly affect how he will adapt to a new home and owner. One of my Goffins (this is not the first home for all three of them), a male named Coconut by the previous owner, has something of an unknown past and is afraid of men. He will listen to me and step up, but is otherwise afraid of me (or any other man for that matter). However he will cuddle with my fiance...even though I've had him for a year and a half and she's been in my life for only a year. If you raised him from a baby (and I mean after he was fully weaned...not from when he was hatched, mind you), and he's a sweet bird you've introduced to various people over the years, then he should adapt well to any loving home. However there are cautionary notes to selling or rehoming your bird. First, if you choose to use a local pet store to consign, make sure of the store's reputation. A good example (I live in Phoenix, Arizona) would be a store we have around here called Cageworld. The last time I visited this bird store I knew much less about pet stores than I do now so I was ignorant of how horrible it was to house a dozen birds in a single large cage. Not only did they pack the birds in cages but there were more than a few reported incidents (which you can find online) of birds being boarded there who 'accidentally' got sold. So be sure the place you go to has a positive reputation from either word of mouth or multiple websites (reviews can be faked so...check around). Whether you consign or sell directly to an owner, as recommended, make sure you meet the potential new owner and ascertain their suitability. You don't want the bird going to a home for the wrong reasons such as for breeding, being a gift to a kid who will lose interest once the newest video game comes out, or someone who says they can't afford the price of a consigned bird (if they can't afford the bird from a shop then how are they going to pay for food, toys, and vet visits?) just to name a few. Finally check with family who may be able to home the bird for few months (or years) to give you time to either catch up with school or finish it. This would be the easiest on your heart, as you would not truly be parted from your companion...as long as someone agreed to it. Reply

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