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Umbrella Cockatoo

White Cockatoo

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

The two Umbrella Cockatoos pictured here are still babies under 3 months old, and still needing to be handfed twice per day!

These birds are extremely friendly and love to be handled. Like most cockatoos Umbrella Cockatoos make very loving pets that need lots of attention. They can learn to talk, as can most cockatoos and are easy to teach all kinds of tricks. 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 alba

Description: Umbrella Cockatoos are a full-sized cockatoo. They are primarily white with long wide crest feathers that resemble an umbrella when raised. The underside of the wings and tail is also frequently tinged with yellow. They have black beaks and dark-grey feet.

Care and feeding: A roomy cage is required (minimum 2 ft. x 2 ft. x 3 ft. high) 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.

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

Distribution: Is found in Obi, Halmahera, Ternate and Tidore in the central and nothern Moluccas, Indonesia.

Size - Weight: Mature birds are about cm (12 inches) in length. They are among the largest cockatoos.

Social Behaviors: In the wild, Cockatoos are friendly and peaceful. They are generally seen in small groups among the treetops.

Breeding/Reproduction: The hen will usually lay two eggs which will hatch in about 30 days. Both parents will brood and the young will wean in about 3 months.

See About Cockatoos: Breeding for more breeding information.

Sexual differences: Hard to tell with young birds. As they get older the iris of the females' eyes will develop a reddish color, the males' eyes will remain black. This is not always completely accurate so other means are necessary if you need to know "for sure" what sex a particular bird is.

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 available from time to time.

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

Lastest Comments on Umbrella Cockatoo View all 62 comments on Umbrella Cockatoo Add Your Comment

Jessica - 2012-02-02 My boy Fred is about 4 years old and is a mama's bird...I bought him toys and play things and he doesn't play at all he either will just dance on/in his cage of is with me, in my lap, on my shoulder. He seems happy because he is always dancing and playing with my hair but I worry because he never wants to play. He is extremely terrified of anyone but me and I wonder if maybe that is why. I'm not sure...any words of wisdom out there? Reply

Lillie LeBlanc - 2012-01-21 We purchased our umbrella cockatoo - Abby for Christmas. She is 6 months old. She loves every toy we've either bought or made for her. We have no children & she is our only pet. I am a previous parrot owner - 12 yrs. and went 5 yrs. without one. Never owned an Umbrella Too. She is such a joy to have. Only problem so far is that she hates it when the TV is on. We watch it only at night & weekends. She ends up in her cage because she screeches & carries on so much we can't hear the TV!!! She actually doesn't mind going in her cage because she quiets down. Maybe I'll try leaving the TV on during the day.... No words yet but hopefully she will begin talking soon. Click For Replies (2) Editor's Note - 2012-01-21 What a fun addition to your family! Just like any 'new baby' you will see her little personality emerge as time goes on. Seems to me, possibly, that when she sees you watching TV, she is feeling like she is not the center of attention. After all, if you were a bird, and your humans became very still and didn't move and looked at a box in the room, you may be a little disturbed too! lol Maybe try petting her or having her sit with you when you watch TV. If that does not work, maybe she will grow out of it, like all little kids do! Enjoy and thanks for the information! Charlie Roche - 2012-01-23 I don't know for sure what is true - only what is real. My birds would go nuts and talk and jabber and make me crazy if I wanted to watch a movie. I bought them their own TV with DVD's and would set up their TV for them. Surf's Up, Little Mermaid, Ninja Turtles etc. They love their TV and they talk to it and they learned many of the words. I then realized they weren't so much 'pitching a fit' when the TV went on as they were communicating with it and also trying to compete with it for my attention. My Panama Memorized Ninja Turtles and a couple and their teens came over to the home and my Panama said clearly 'drop your drawers, I have a pistol'. If it is your little guys bedtime, sure put him to bed, but otherwise you might want to just let him watch TV - their are kids programs during the day. Reply

Tamara - 2012-01-20 Hello! We are the proud new owners of a 5 month old Umbrella Cockatoo. We picked her up from the pet store last week. She was so sweet and loved to be held. We were under the assumption that she was eating all on her own. We put fresh fruit and veggies and seeds with pellets. But after 2 days she just cries now every time we pick her up nonstop. She doesn't cry when she's in her cage but does scream here and there. We have tried hand feeding her, but she has no interest. Not sure if she's hungry and wants to be syringed fed? Any suggestions? Click For Replies (2) Clarice Brough - 2012-01-20 This may just be a behavioral thing, your bird may be testing to see what kind of reaction she gets, or it may be more serious. I would take her to an avian veterinarian first thing, to have her and her feces checked, and to eliminate any health concerns. If she's fine and its a behavior thing, then you can look at suggestions to deal with that. Tricks like eating in front of her and offering her some of your food... toos love to eat what they see you eating. Charlie Roche - 2012-01-23 An Umbrella cockatoo, especially when young, will make a constant low sorta mewing/crying sound. I always thought it meant they just love the attention. I am not positive but even my big guy now will sometimes 'cry' when I hold him. A concern I have (as you mentioned it) is maybe she does want fed. If she won't take the syrings, then although this sounds a little crazy, you can try baby food and a spoon and start by having her lick it off your fingers. Baby applesauce, apricots, are usually a favorite. I have also read frequently that female cockatoos when they fledge the nest look for a mate - How does she find one? It is the older male cockatoor that 'feeds her' So it might just be instinct. Your little gal is looking to make sure that she has someone to care for her (through the thick and thin) via the preeening/cuddling/feeding. The female many times has fledged, picked a mate and brought him home (honest) to sleep by her side by 6 months of age. I think she is fine but yes, I would try feeding her with your hand. Reply

Glenda - 2012-01-12 How long after your birds breed, do they lay eggs?? Click For Replies (1) Charlie Roche - 2012-01-12 Birds are breeding because the egg is already there coming down. Usually 3 - 4 eggs and they sorta look like peeled grapes. The birds breed and the eggs are fertilized and as the eggs come out the cloaca, the calcium is deposited around the egg and forms the shell. Now I can't tell you how long it takes for the fertilized egg to complete its journey but somewhere around day 1 - 2 the first egg is laid, then the next day or two the second and the next day or two the third. Reply

mary - 2011-12-29 I have am 8 month old Cockatoo and I think I have over bonded with her. I let her out to play and all she wants is me to hold her.....Any ideas on how to break her from this??? She is very sweet and no bad habits but I try to let her play on the floor or table and she just climbs right up my leg to get to me. Click For Replies (1) Charlie Roche - 2011-12-30 That is a cockatoo - that is their personality and you haven't over bonded. I don't even think it is possible to over bond with a cockatoo. She isn't going to play on the floor - too low and they can't see what is going on. If you sit on the floor with her and play she will but other wise no. Same thing with a table. I would try a free standing perch cholla wood or sanded manzanita with a bunch of chew toys she can eat. Have the perch so she can see you and place her on the perch. It might take a few times but she should get used to the perch and then you can read, watch TV or do homework and she will play/sit contentedly. She is a baby now - 8 months and she will get a little more independent but not a whole lot. Reply

zhyomie - 2011-11-06 I'm a new owner to a 13 year old cockatoo who's name is Ricky. She picks her feathers and the week that have had her I haven't seen her bathe herself. Is there anything I should do? I've also noticed she has lots of dander. She is my first bird. Click For Replies (2) Charlie Roche - 2011-11-07 Cockatoos have powder - which is what I think you're saying about dander. In the wild, they would naturally bathe with the rain but in your home, you have to bathe them. You can just spritz them down (soak them good) a few times a week with water. Some love the actual shower. If their feathers get dry, they itch and they will pick at them. A good soaking a few times a week should solve/help that. They also naturally preen their feathers which is their way of cleaning. Just soak her down - but gently. They have bird sprayers and bathes at the pet store but just water and a light sprayer (not the garden hose) will work. Lois - 2011-12-27 I have a suction cup shower perch for my Cockatoo and he likes his showers and certainly will tell you when he has had enough! My son moved in with a pit bull mix that agitated him and he started showing distress in his feathers so I bought the shower perch and it really helped. One day he said 'NO' and I wouldn't listen---he warned me and bit me bad. I pushed the idea of another bath and he just didn't want it! So do learn his or her body language! That bite HURT bad! Reply

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