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Salmon-crestedcockatoo, orMoluccan cockatoo(Cacatua moluccensis, orPlyctolophus moluccensis)
Phylum —chordata
Class — aves
Order — psittaciformes
Family — cacatuidae
Genus – cacatua
Appearance
The Salmon-crested cockatoo is considered the largest of the white cockatoos. It is around 20 inches long and weighs close to 2 pounds. The female is slightly larger than the male.
It has a slight pink tint to its overall plumage. Its crest and under its wings is tinged with a darker more prominent pink coloring.
It has the distinctive crest that cockatoos are known for. It raises its crest to attract a mate or when it’s alarmed or frustrated. You should never approach a cockatoo when its crest is raised. When the crest is lowered, the bird is relaxed and calm.
The eyes of the male are dark brown but the females have a reddish tint.
Habitat
Moluccan cockatoos are native to the south Moluccas and eastern Indonesia.
Behavior
Like other cockatoos the Salmon-crested has a loud screeching call. They are often heard before they are seen.
Diet
This bird eats a diet consisting of seeds, nuts, fruits and even large insects. Its powerful beak can use 500 pound of force so it can crack any type of nut including coconuts.
They will also feed off farm grains such as corn and can destroy an entire crop. Because of this they are considered a pest by farmers.
Reproduction
The Salmon-crested cockatoo breeds only once a year, usually between December and March. The male bird will present itself to the female and raise its crest to get attention.
They nest in the cavities of trees and usually lay only one or two eggs. When two eggs are hatched often only one chick survives. They fledge after four months. They will not breed until they are four years old.
They mate for life and will feel stress if separated from their mate.
In captivity
These birds can live over 30 years in captivity with the proper diet and care.
These pets are affectionate and smart and can be trained to mimic and due a variety of tricks.However, their fierce connection to one owner can make them harmful to other family members. Consistent proper training can help deal with this problem.
You must have a lot of time to dedicate to this bird. People who work full-time often have a hard time giving these birds the attention they need. They must be out of their cages and with their owners at least three or four hours each day.
Because of this neediness, they are not recommended for anyone but experience bird owners. They will become aggressive and pluck their own feathers if they don’t receive the proper attention and care. They are considered one of the most demanding pets to own.
Like most cockatoos, the Salmon-crested is a noisy bird with a loud screeching call. They are not suited to apartment dwellers. It’s important that this bird is not held and cuddled so much when it’s young that it cannot entertain itself at least some of the time on its own. Otherwise, it will only be content when it’s with its owner which is not possible all hours of the day.
These birds need to be challenged or they become bored and destructive.
