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Lesser Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

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

   "Rocky" loves attention and is a very playful comedian. When he gets excited he will lift up his crest like an Indian headdress, bob up and down, and dance. What a card!

   The Lesser Sulphur-crested Cockatoos are very docile. They can learn to speak and are easy to teach all kinds of tricks. This is a smaller cockatoo and they are sometimes referred to as the "apartment-sized cockatoo". They are pretty birds with a delicate beautiful appearance and their movements are very gracefully.

   Like cockatoos in general, they are a very loving type of bird. Affection is readily accepted and returned in kind. They are a pet that not only appreciates interaction but requires it and needs a lot of attention from their owners. Buy a cockatoo only if you can spend a lot of time with it.

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

Scientific Name:Cacatua sulphurea

Subspecies:

• Lesser Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
  Cacatua sulphurea sulphurea
• Citron-crested Cockatoo
  Cacatua sulphurea citrinocristata
• Cacatua sulphurea djampeana
• Cacatua sulphurea abbotti
• Cacatua sulphurea occidentalis
• Cacatua sulphurea parvula

   The Lesser Sulphur-crested Cockatoo is divided into six subspecies. They very much resemble the Greater Sulphur-crested Cockatoo but are much smaller, being 3 or 4 inches shorter in length. Except for the Citron-crested Cockatoo they are all similar to each other as well, with differences being in the amount of yellow, the size of the bill, or combinations of these. The Citron-crested Cockatoo is decidedly different in that its crest and ear-coverts are orange rather than yellow and it is a bit larger than the others.

Distribution:    This bird is found in Sulawesi (Celebes), Sunda Islands, and other adjoining islands. They inhabit open woodlands, the edge of forests, and cultivated wheat fields.

Description:    Lesser Sulphur-crested Cockatoos are a smaller cockatoo. They have a white plummage with a yellow or "sulphur" colored crest on the top of their head. There is also yellow their cheeks and on the undersides of their wings and tail. They can learn to talk, as can most cockatoos and are easy to teach all kinds of tricks. Mature birds are about 33 cm (13 inches) in length.
   In many respects the Lesser Sulphur-crested Cockatoo resembles the Greater Sulphur-crested Cockatoo. Technically these two species would be referred to as 'superspecies', meaning two similar species that are geographically separated. Besides size, the Greater Sulphur-crested being a larger bird, there are a few other criteria used to identify them. The Lesser Sulphur-crested Cockatoos have a heavier, wider, and less protruding beak, their crest is usually narrower, and the bare skin around their eyes is much whiter.
   Birds that are called the 'Medium Sulphur-crested Cockatoo' are generally the Eleanora Cockatoo Cacatua galerita eleonora, a subspecies of Greater Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, though in earlier writings this term sometimes referred to larger individuals of the Lesser Sulphur-crested Cockatoo.

Care and feeding:    A roomy cage 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.
   In the wild they eat seeds, berries, nuts, fruits and probably vegetable matter. They eat a variety of seeds, nuts, fruits, and commercial pellets, as well as the same nutritional foods humans eat.
   See About Cockatoos: Housing and About Cockatoos: Care and Feeding for more information.

Social Behaviors:    In the wild Cockatoos are friendly and peaceful. They live in pairs or small flocks though sometimes they will gather in very large flocks to feed.
   They enjoy and require a lot of affection and attention. It is often recommended that they be kept in pairs so they will keep each other company. This can help to reduce the amount of time you will have to devote to an individual bird.

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

Sexual differences:    Hard to tell the sex of young birds. As they get older the iris of the females' eyes will develop a reddish color, he males' eyes will be dark brown to black.

Potential Problems:    Cockatoos can be quite loud screechers. This behavior can be reduced by giving attention and by proper surroundings. Also, since they are prone to chewing, if they are not given enough attention they will chew their own feathers.
   See About Cockatoos: Potential Problems for information on illnesses.

Availability: These birds are becoming readily available.

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

Lastest Comments on Lessor Sulphur-crested Cockatoo View all 8 comments on Lessor Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Add Your Comment

das - 2010-05-01 I just purchased a LSC today. I did think long and hard as this is a life long commitment. I was told that she was a he, but after getting her home and in her new cage she kept lowering her head and raising her bottom and shaking (breeding posture). She is amazingly sweet, letting me pet her already and not biting. The place I purchased her from concerned me. There were so many other Cockatoo's in dirty cages without toys and missing feathers. It reminded me of a puppy mill but only a bird mill. I felt so sorry for those poor birds. The people who breed these birds related they are selling all their birds and getting out of the business and I hope they do. Too many birds are purchased and then abandoned or resold back to breeders who do not give them the kind of attention or care they need. It is very sad and I feel like I rescued this bird. She is going straight to the vet on Monday. I offered to come back and help them clean cages but they didn't seem like they wanted the help. I know not all bird breeders are like this, and I had no idea when I contacted them off the internet what I was going to find, but it makes you wonder. Jade Lindholm - 2010-12-07 Hi, I have been searching for a cockatoo who needs me such as a rescue and wondered if you would tell me where this breeder is so that I can buy one from them to get the bird out of trouble. Thanks for letting me know. Best Wishes and thanks for your post. Jade Barb Dozier - 2010-12-31 Report these people immediately. There is no time to waste. Those birds are suffering. Don't allow it to go on. Call animal control in your area, they will know what to do. Reply

Bkrbabe221 - 2010-04-11 I "inherited" a LSC from a wonderful, loving couple who were getting too old to care for her. Not knowing a thing about birds (but being a die-hard animal lover), we took her in and did a lot of research. She is charming, intelligent and plays well with a pit bull and black lab (yes, really!!). She talks, she plays and is charming. Not for those carefree with their animals and not for those with children since they do require so much time. It's like having a perpetual 5 year old, but she's so funny. I never thought I would like birds, but I am a true lover now. Charlie Roche - 2012-01-10 That is all it took for me too. I got just one bird and fell in love and then I got another and another etc They are wonderful. Sulphur Crest is a great companion and a fun fella. Lots of luck and enjoy. Reply

Jillian - 2010-05-21 Hello: I work in an office in where one of my bosses is obsessed with birds. He bought a Cockatoo (this kind) about four years ago. Every day I dreaded coming to work because of his loud screams all day! I never took time to research them until now when I was ready to quit over this bird. I am so happy I have found sites such as these. In the past I have tried to take him out once a week, but reading all these articles has shown me that he must be played with everyday. I have taken his cage out from the window where everyone comes and stares at him and tries to play with him. I now know that he was just scared. He has calmed down so much and is not screaming as much. I know I have a long way to go but I am going to stick it through! thank you! Reply

Scott Reid - 2005-06-02 I used to have an LSC. She was given to me on my 13th b-day in Singapore and had her as my companion for 20 yrs. I think in hindsight that she had been wild, for she bit me for the first year I had her, but after we were pretty much inseparable- I guess we "bonded". They do need a LOT of attention, patience, and love, but they return it in spades and can be very entertaining and loyal- jealous, even, in my case. I miss her(she passed away last year) and wish there had been a website like this I could refer to, but I wouldn't trade those memories for anything! daboddy Lori Schaller - 2011-09-18 That is awesome, but I am sorry to hear that she passed away. I felt better knowing that I am not the only one who is going through living with a very loving and jealous friend. I thought that my bird, Baby, is just a bird with mental issues. LOL Clarice Brough - 2011-09-18 Sounds like you had an awesome pet. I love the Sulphur-crested, they are such beauties and clowns, a bit more rambunctious than the umbrella's. They have always been a favorite. I'm sorry for your loss Scott, my birds are part of my heart too, and those that I've lost (or had to re-home) are still a big part of me and such fond memories. Reply

holly - 2011-07-30 My pop had a cockatoo named lala. He would dance and speak very very clear. He saved a persons life he would call out your name when he wanted somthing off you. He was the most friendliest bird. He loved kids. You say dance lala dance and he would repeat and dance. My family will miss him as he later passed. Charlie Roche - 2011-08-01 When birds talk and mingle they become such a part of the family. Reply

Elaine Austin - 2007-01-18 We adopted a 12 year old rescue LSC. He is now named Hakuryu. He is quite independent for a cockatoo, but also loves attention on his terms. We has been a part of our family for almost 3 yrs and is a delight. He had a horrible past and we are working on him with his aggression. He is only loud when you are standing in front of the TV. He loves music. He is a typical cockatoo because he loves to dance and entertain and he says a few phrases like Pretty, pretty bird, and hi and bye, etc. He has a really large cage and uses every square inch of it since it has so many toys and different perches and is very active. A cockatoo is not for the faint of heart and they will test all boundaries and when they bite they leave little "smiley" faces. A peson who has a baby cockatoo needs to be patient because when they hit puberty (2-5 yrs), they get very nippy and no longer the love sponge they wanted. Reply

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