White-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua alba)

Profile of pair of White-crested Cockatoos
© Jonker/Innemee Araproject | www.araproject.nl

Photos

Did You Know?

Is more tolerant to habitat disturbance than the Moluccan Cockatoo and is found in selectively logged areas, plantations, and degraded woodlands.

Academic Research

Related publications: Cacatua alba

Species Profile

Genus: Cacatua | Species: alba

Size:

46cm (18 in)

Weight:

550g (19.25 oz)

Subspecies including nominate:

one

Colour Adult:

Both adults completely white; have backward curving crest; yellow suffusion under wings. Eye ring off white. Eye dark brown in male, red/brown in female.

Colour Juvenile:

As adult but with dark grey eye.

Call:

Loud, grating screech; alarm is hissing voice.

Listen Now

Video Links:

Video 1 | Video 2

More Information:

Avibase

Content Sources:

CITES
BirdLife International
Cornell Lab of Ornithology/Birds of the World
A Guide to Parrots of the World, Juniper and Parr, 1998
Parrots of the World, Forshaw and Cooper, 1989.
Vanished and Vanishing Parrots, Forshaw, 2017.
Parrots of the World, Forshaw, 2006.
Parrots in Aviculture, Low, 1992.
Avian Pediatric Seminar Proceedings, 1988.
Psittacine Aviculture, Schubot, Clubb and Clubb, 1992.
Parrots: Status Survey and Conservation Plan 2000-2004, Snyder, McGowan, Gilardi and Grajal, 2000.

Profile of pair of White-crested Cockatoos
© Jonker/Innemee Araproject | www.araproject.nl

Photos

View in Gallery

Did You Know?

Is more tolerant to habitat disturbance than the Moluccan Cockatoo and is found in selectively logged areas, plantations, and degraded woodlands.

Academic Research

Related publications: Cacatua alba

Species Care

Captive Status:

Common

Longevity:

40-60 yrs

Housing:

Walk-in aviary, minimum length 3m (9.8 ft).

Diet:

Mixture of small seeds: canary, oats, safflower; spray millet, limited sunflower seed, dry, soaked or sprouted; sprouted beans such as mung, peas; corn on the cob, green leaves such as: Swiss chard, lettuce, dandelion, chickweed; fresh vegetables such as: carrot, celery, zucchini, green beans, peas in the pod; fresh fruit such as: apple, banana, orange, cactus fruits and others; complete kibble, walnuts, hazelnuts, pecans, roasted peanuts.

Enrichment:

Bird-safe chewables (fir, pine, elder, willow or sterilized pine cones), different sized perches, ladders, large link chains (durable plastic) swings, bathing using overhead misters or spray bottles, socialization.

Nest Box Size:

Vertical box 12" x 12" x 36" (30.5cm x 30.5cm x 91.5cm).

Clutch Size:

2

Incubation Time:

28 days

Fledging Age:

13-15 weeks

Hatch Weight:

18g (0.6 oz)

Peak Weight:

470-764g (16.5-26.7 oz)

Weaning Weight:

481-548g (16.8-19.1 oz)

Profile of pair of White-crested Cockatoos
© Jonker/Innemee Araproject | www.araproject.nl

Photos

View in Gallery

Did You Know?

Is more tolerant to habitat disturbance than the Moluccan Cockatoo and is found in selectively logged areas, plantations, and degraded woodlands.

Academic Research

Related publications: Cacatua alba

Species Wild Status

World Population:

Unknown, decreasing.

IUCN Red List Status:

Endangered

CITES Listing:

Appendix II

Threat Summary:

Affected by trapping and rapid habitat loss. Currently, both adults and young are taken for trade. Recent research indicates that rapid declines are predicted to increase in the future (Vetter 2009).

Range:

Found on Halmahera, Bacan, Ternate, Tidore, Kasiruta and Mandiole Islands in N Moluccas, Indonesia.

Habitat:

Found in lowland and hill forest up to 600m (1968 ft). Are able to adjust to secondary growth.

Wild Diet:

Forages on arboreal seeds and fruits; birds observed bark-peeling and investigating epiphytes, suggesting that they may also eat insects.

Ecology and Behaviour:

Spends most of its time in the forest canopy, seen in pairs or small groups. Gathers in larger groups at dusk to roost.

Clutch and Egg Size:

2 elliptical eggs, 41.0 x 31.0mm (1.6 x 1.2 in).

Breeding Season:

April-August. Nest is in cavity in large forest tree.

Photos

View in Gallery

Did You Know?

Is more tolerant to habitat disturbance than the Moluccan Cockatoo and is found in selectively logged areas, plantations, and degraded woodlands.

Academic Research

Related publications: Cacatua alba

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