JAKE, an Umbrella Cockatoo, came to us at 42 years old in January 2018 from an owner who just dropped him off, said his screams were driving him crazy. We have since found him to be the complete opposite, he is simply amazing! Jake is quite the cuddle bug and has the endearing habit of making clucking noises with his tongue when he is being hugged. He lives with two other cockatoos, Cami, a Muloccan and Casper, a Goffin. He gets very jealous when we pay attention to the other two! We have discovered that all three are head-bangers, and love to dance and sing to heavy metal music. Jake is the best screecher, but he does not talk at all.
ORDER: Psittaciformes
FAMILY: Cacatuidae
GENUS: Cacatua
SPECIES: Alba
Cockatoos live in flocks, or cackles. They are monogamous and mate for life. The name “umbrella” is due to the way the crest on their head opens. They are also called the “white cockatoo.” They can be found in Indonesia and the Australasian realm, (Australia, New Guinea, and the Indonesian archipelago). Their crest is used for communication, and their feathers are covered in a powder to help waterproof them in a tropical climate. Think of putting powder in your shoes to help keep your feet dry. Mating season is from December to March where both the male and the female share incubating duties. After approximately 30 day and laying 2 to 3 eggs, the parents choose to raise only one baby. The other eggs were made just incase the first one didn’t work out. The baby learns to fly at about 3 months old but does not sexually mature until the age of 6. Their average lifespan in the wild is 30 to 40 yrs.
Threats
The biggest threat to the white cockatoos is illegal trapping for pet trade birds. Habitat loss and hunting comes in as a close second.
Conservation Status
EN - Endangered