Blue-eyed Cockatoos
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The Blue Eyed Cockatoo is native to the forests of New Britain and New Ireland in the Bismarck Archipelago. Sadly, this cockatoo is extremely rare both in the wild and in captivity. Therefore, they are a protected species (listed as Cites II - Endangered Species).
Description:
At maturity they will average between 45 and 50 centimeters in length and weigh between 500 and 570 grams. Their plumage is largely white, though a striking large yellow and white crest is seen atop their heads. The yellow feathers are behind the white and are often not seen until the crest is raised. Yellow can also be seen under the wings and tail feathers. They get their name from the striking blue rings around their eyes, a distinctive feature to be sure. The beak of the Blue Eyed Cockatoo is black.
Males and females can often be distinguished by eye color. Males traditionally have a black iris, while the female's tends to be reddish.
Pet Qualities:
The Blue-eyed Cockatoo is beautiful parrot that is loved and admired by bird lovers throughout the world. The Blue-eyed Cockatoo is reported to be one of the friendliest and most playful of all the cockatoos. They enjoy being handled and are known to be great mimics.
The Blue Eyed Cockatoos are rather noisy, both in the wild and in captivity. They are destructive to furnishings and experienced bird owners will provide them with many chew toys and wooden branches, as well as mental stimulation to keep them occupied. Like other cockatoos, the Blue Eyed Cockatoo requires a significant amount of time and attention. Neglect will often result in feather plucking and other forms of self-mutilation. Please refer to this website for information.
The average Blue Eyed Cockatoo lives 40 years in captivity. Surprisingly their lifespan in the wild is longer, 50 to 60 years. The decreased lifespan in captivity may be due to improper care.
Training and Behavioral Guidance:
Cockatoos certainly demand a lot of attention, but are appreciated for their exceptionally loving, devoted personality that is second to none. Cockatoos require an extremely dedicated owner who is willing to provide significant and meaningful attention to these intelligent parrots. They require consistent training from a young age to ensure potential cockatoo owners enjoy a bird free of destructive and annoying habits. Behavioral challenges that cockatoos present include:
- Excessive Chewing: Any parrot will chew. In nature, they use their beak to "customize" their favorite tree, to enlarge the size of their nest in a tree hollow. Doing this keeps their beaks in good condition. The problem is excessive and undesirable chewing. Undisciplined cockatoos will chew on electric wiring potentially causing house fires. The owner needs to provide plenty of "healthy" chewing opportunities (bird toys, natural wood branches, etc.) and training is necessary to teach a cockatoo what is "off-limits."
- Biting: Cockatoos, as most parrots, are likely to discover their beaks as a method of "disciplining us" once they are out of the "baby stage." It really is important to learn to understand them and to guide their behavior before an undesirable behavior has been established. If this behavior is unchecked, the cockatoo is likely to be dominating the entire family, chasing and attacking their least favorite humans (usually the ones they deem to be a competitor for their human mate's affection). Training is vital to stop this destructive behavior.
- Screaming: Not everybody can tolerate the natural loud call of a cockatoo, and even though it can't (or should not) be entirely eliminated, there are ways to discourage screaming / screeching in your pet cockatoo.
Training and behavioral guidance will help your pet be the kind of companion you want it to be ...
- AvianWeb Resources: I put together web resources for you to help you understand your pet bird and properly direct him. Please visit this website for valuable tips on parrot behavior and training. If you found a way to resolve a "parrot behavioral issue" please share it with others.
- If you are, as I am, a visual learner and prefer step-by-step instructions to train your pet, I recommend:
- the Parrot Training Course to teach your parrot to:
- Stop Biting
- Perform Tricks &
- Tame ANY SIZE bird you could possibly own
- and/or try the "Teach Your Parrot to Talk" Training Course.
- the Parrot Training Course to teach your parrot to:
If you are considering one of these magnificent parrots as pets, please visit the following websites for information:
- Cockatoo General Information
- Procuring your Parrot
- Bird Breeders
- Do you breed this species and would like to be listed? Click here to see your options.
- The 3 Key Elements to Keep Your Pet Bird Happy & Healthy
- Housing Your Bird
- Bird Nutrition
- Parrot Products
Taxonomy:
Genus: English: White Black-billed Cockatoos ... Dutch: Wit & Zwartsnavelkakatoes ... German: Eigentliche Kakadus ... French: Cacatoès
Species: Scientific: Cacatua ophthalmicaaka Cacatua galerita ophthalmica ... English: Blue-eyed Cockatoos ... Dutch: Blauwoogkakatoe ... German: Brillenkakadu ... French: Cacatoès à bleues yeux
If you would like to add to or correct any of the above information, or would like to share with the AvianWeb visitors your own experiences, please e-mail the AvianWeb Webmaster.
Photo contributions and articles are welcome!
