Post by Smiley on Mar 7, 2008 5:22:57 GMT -5
With permisson from smileysbirds.proboards26.com/index.cgi
Sulphur Crested Cockatoo
(Cacatua galerita)
SUBSPECIES
Four subspecies are recognized, only two are native to Australia. These are the nominate subspecies, Cacatua galerita galerita, which is found in eastern Australia and is the one most common as pets, and C. g. fitzroyi, from northern and north-western Australia. C. g. galerita varies from fitzroyi having a white eye ring rather than pale blue, and paler yellow colour to the ear coverts, and the crest feathers are shorter. The other two subspecies are Cacatua g. triton and Cacatua g. eleonora, which are only found in Indonesia and Papua-New Guinea.
Basic Facts:
The Sulphur crested cockatoo, is a large white parrot measuring roughly 45-50cm in length. It has a very dark bill, and a distinctive Yellow Crest. Both male and female Sulphur Crested Cockatoos appear to be mostly the same. A way to tell male from female, is the colour of the eyes, the females have a red-brown eye, while the males have a darker brown. They usually weigh 800 gram, give or take 50 grams or so. The Sulphur Cockatoo is an extremely noisy bird, with a loud screech.
The Sulphur Crested Cockatoo is very common and is found in North Queensland, beyond the Iron Range Mountains, as well as parts of the snowy mountains. They are also found in Adelaide, and Southern South Australia and can be spotted north of Perth. The popularity for these birds has grown a lot of the years, and in same ways this has not been so good. Some either escaped or is deliberately released, and now a small population has been discovered around Perth, Western Australia. They are commonly found in timbered areas, and close to human Developement. They stay in the same area all year round. This bird has also found its way into, New Guinea, Aru Islands, and also been introduced into New Zealand and Indonesia.
Personality/Pet Quality:
If properly cared for, the cockatoo is able to live up to 70+ years in captivity. They are often a sought after pet bird, because they require lots of human company and physical attention. Like hugging, kissing and petting. The downside to these magnificent birds is that they often require allot more attention then we can provide for them. The often bond to 1 member of the family and are an extremely noisy bird, and not a good pet for a suburban household. They can have behaviors problems, especially during breeding season. This is when people do not under what is going on. For some of these reasons, and more is why we see so many re-homed and ending up in rescue places. They can often learn to speak in context, greeting people with Hello, and bye bye when they leave.
Cage:
Considering the Sulphur crested cockatoo is a large bird, they do need an exceptionally large cage, and minimum cage should be minimum of 32" length by 36" high and 32" wide. An aviary is always better suited for these big parrots, and they would be much happier in an aviary. If keeping a Sulphur Cockatoo in a cage, it is best for it to be made out of Metal, with a sturdy lock. Cockatoos are masterminds at opening cage doors. They requite lots of toys and branches in their cage to keep them entertained, they love shredding branches, which also helps keep their beaks nice and trimmed. Sulphur cockatoos that are put in cages with no toys or stimulation may start to pluck their own feathers, or even self mutilate. And scream, also can be a very disturb too. Some will pluck themselves to the point were they damage the feather molecules and it is impossible for new feathers to grow back in.
.
Diet:
The Sulphurs diet usually consists of, Berries, Seeds, Nuts, and roots, herbaceous plants, trees and grain crops. They also eat bulbous roots, berries, nuts and leaf buds, and some insects and their larvae. Their beak is perfectly designed for this kind of food. There pincer like beak, easily pierces the toughest seed shells, the then sensitive tongue removes the kernels from the shell. The tongue is so sensitive; it can store uneaten seeds in the beak, while it selects one seed at a time. Sulphur Crested Cockatoos also enjoy fruits and vegetables such as, Peas, Corn, Carrot, Apple, Spinach and many more goodies that you can offer your feathered friend.
Health Issues:
A major health issue when it comes to Sulphur Crested Cockatoos is PBFD, Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease.
This disease causes the bird to loose its feathers, and grow a grotesquely shaped beak. This is a devastating disease for owner and bird to have to go through, in the end the bird succumbs to a slow and painful death.
For more information about PBFD please visit,
www.parrotsociety.org.au/articles/art_007.htm
Fatty Tumours
Feather Plucking / Mutilation
Breeding:
Sulphur Crested Cockatoos usually breed between Augusts to January. 1-3 eggs are usually laid in a tree hollow, which both sexes help to prepare. Both birds incubate the eggs, which is usually for 30 days. The leave the nest after about 60-70 days, they remain with their parents all year round. Family groups stay together indefinitely.
Sulphur Crested Cockatoo
(Cacatua galerita)
SUBSPECIES
Four subspecies are recognized, only two are native to Australia. These are the nominate subspecies, Cacatua galerita galerita, which is found in eastern Australia and is the one most common as pets, and C. g. fitzroyi, from northern and north-western Australia. C. g. galerita varies from fitzroyi having a white eye ring rather than pale blue, and paler yellow colour to the ear coverts, and the crest feathers are shorter. The other two subspecies are Cacatua g. triton and Cacatua g. eleonora, which are only found in Indonesia and Papua-New Guinea.
Basic Facts:
The Sulphur crested cockatoo, is a large white parrot measuring roughly 45-50cm in length. It has a very dark bill, and a distinctive Yellow Crest. Both male and female Sulphur Crested Cockatoos appear to be mostly the same. A way to tell male from female, is the colour of the eyes, the females have a red-brown eye, while the males have a darker brown. They usually weigh 800 gram, give or take 50 grams or so. The Sulphur Cockatoo is an extremely noisy bird, with a loud screech.
The Sulphur Crested Cockatoo is very common and is found in North Queensland, beyond the Iron Range Mountains, as well as parts of the snowy mountains. They are also found in Adelaide, and Southern South Australia and can be spotted north of Perth. The popularity for these birds has grown a lot of the years, and in same ways this has not been so good. Some either escaped or is deliberately released, and now a small population has been discovered around Perth, Western Australia. They are commonly found in timbered areas, and close to human Developement. They stay in the same area all year round. This bird has also found its way into, New Guinea, Aru Islands, and also been introduced into New Zealand and Indonesia.
Personality/Pet Quality:
If properly cared for, the cockatoo is able to live up to 70+ years in captivity. They are often a sought after pet bird, because they require lots of human company and physical attention. Like hugging, kissing and petting. The downside to these magnificent birds is that they often require allot more attention then we can provide for them. The often bond to 1 member of the family and are an extremely noisy bird, and not a good pet for a suburban household. They can have behaviors problems, especially during breeding season. This is when people do not under what is going on. For some of these reasons, and more is why we see so many re-homed and ending up in rescue places. They can often learn to speak in context, greeting people with Hello, and bye bye when they leave.
Cage:
Considering the Sulphur crested cockatoo is a large bird, they do need an exceptionally large cage, and minimum cage should be minimum of 32" length by 36" high and 32" wide. An aviary is always better suited for these big parrots, and they would be much happier in an aviary. If keeping a Sulphur Cockatoo in a cage, it is best for it to be made out of Metal, with a sturdy lock. Cockatoos are masterminds at opening cage doors. They requite lots of toys and branches in their cage to keep them entertained, they love shredding branches, which also helps keep their beaks nice and trimmed. Sulphur cockatoos that are put in cages with no toys or stimulation may start to pluck their own feathers, or even self mutilate. And scream, also can be a very disturb too. Some will pluck themselves to the point were they damage the feather molecules and it is impossible for new feathers to grow back in.
.
Diet:
The Sulphurs diet usually consists of, Berries, Seeds, Nuts, and roots, herbaceous plants, trees and grain crops. They also eat bulbous roots, berries, nuts and leaf buds, and some insects and their larvae. Their beak is perfectly designed for this kind of food. There pincer like beak, easily pierces the toughest seed shells, the then sensitive tongue removes the kernels from the shell. The tongue is so sensitive; it can store uneaten seeds in the beak, while it selects one seed at a time. Sulphur Crested Cockatoos also enjoy fruits and vegetables such as, Peas, Corn, Carrot, Apple, Spinach and many more goodies that you can offer your feathered friend.
Health Issues:
A major health issue when it comes to Sulphur Crested Cockatoos is PBFD, Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease.
This disease causes the bird to loose its feathers, and grow a grotesquely shaped beak. This is a devastating disease for owner and bird to have to go through, in the end the bird succumbs to a slow and painful death.
For more information about PBFD please visit,
www.parrotsociety.org.au/articles/art_007.htm
Fatty Tumours
Feather Plucking / Mutilation
Breeding:
Sulphur Crested Cockatoos usually breed between Augusts to January. 1-3 eggs are usually laid in a tree hollow, which both sexes help to prepare. Both birds incubate the eggs, which is usually for 30 days. The leave the nest after about 60-70 days, they remain with their parents all year round. Family groups stay together indefinitely.