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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
lesser
sulpher-crested cockatoo |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Aves |
| ORDER: |
Psittaciformes |
| FAMILY: |
Cacatuidae |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Cacatua
(referring to the bird's call) sulphurea
(yellow) |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
This
cockatoo is a large white parrot with a yellow crest
and ear spot, yellow under the wings and tail, and
a hooked beak. |
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| SIZE: |
Approximately
30-32.5 cm (12-13 in.) |
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| WEIGHT: |
Approximately
300-350 g (10.5-12.3 oz.) |
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| DIET: |
Includes
seeds, nuts, fruits, berries, and some insects |
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| INCUBATION: |
Approximately 30 days |
| CLUTCH
SIZE |
2-6
eggs |
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| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
2-3
years |
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| LIFE
SPAN: |
65
or more years |
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| RANGE: |
Australia
and south-east Asia |
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| HABITAT: |
Found
in forests, scrubs and grasslands |
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
2,500-10,000 |
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| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Not
listed |
| CITES |
Appendix
II |
| USFWS |
Critically
Endangered |
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| 1. |
Lesser
sulphur-crested cockatoos are the smallest of the
sulphur-crested parrots. |
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| 2. |
Both
parents take part in incubating the eggs. |
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| 3. |
Cockatoos
can mimic the sounds of other animals, including
people. |
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| 4. |
Cockatoos
can hold their food in one foot and break pieces
off of it with the other foot. |
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| 5. |
Cockatoos
live in small, loose flocks. |
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| 6. |
They
are very gregarious and quickly learn to mimic.
These birds also have a very shrill cry. |
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Cockatoos
are a food source for many animals larger than
themselves.
Their
feeding habits are very destructive, which annoys
most gardeners. These birds are often regarded
as pests because of their diets (sometimes feeding
on crops); licensed culling is permitted in certain
states.
They
aid in seed dispersal through their eating of
fruit.
This
species is very popular in the pet trade and is
considered to be an exceptionally easy bird to
tame. They are generally very affectionate toward
humans and have lively personalities. This species
is often used for show and appears quite comfortable
in exhibition halls among hundreds of other birds
and large crowds. One word of caution: since these
birds live a long time, owners often have to will
them to someone else in case they are unable to
care for them any longer.
The
U.S. Wild Bird Act forbids the commercial import
of any bird listed by CITES which includes most
parrots - endangered or threatened.
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|
|
Austin,
G. Birds of the World. New York. Golden
Press, Inc., 1961.
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Decoten,
A.E. Handbook of Cockatoos. Neptune City,
NJ. T.F.H. Pub., 1981.
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| Diefenbach,
K. The World of Cockatoos. Neptune City.
NJ. T.F.H. Publications, 1985. |
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| Forshaw,
J.M. Parrots of the World. Neptune City,
NJ. T.F.H. Publications, 1977. |
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| Gotch,
A.F. Birds - Their Latin Names Explained.
UK. Blandford Books Ltd., 1981. |
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| Simpson,
D.P. Cassell's Latin Dictionary. New York.
Macmillan Publishing Company. 1959. |
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| http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/search/species_search.html |
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| http://www.xmission.com/~hoglezoo/birds/cockatoo.htm |
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