Moluccan or Salmon-crested Cockatoos
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The Moluccan Cockatoo, Cacatua moluccensis, or Salmon-crested Cockatoo, is a cockatoo endemic to Ceram, South Moluccas in eastern Indonesia. In the wild, the Moluccan Cockatoo inhabits lowland forest below ~3,300 feet (~ 1000 m), where they can be seen foraging on seeds, nuts, fruit and coconuts.
The moluccan cockatoo is endangered in its natural habitat and is a protected species, as such this cockatoo is listed on appendix 1 of CITES since 1989, which makes trade in wild-caught birds illegal. The number of Moluccans in the wild has declined because of habitat loss and illegal trapping for the cage-bird trade.
At 20 inches (50 cm), this is the largest of the white cockatoos, with the female generally being larger than the males.
This cockatoo has white-pink feathers with a definite peachy glow (and a slight yellow on the under wing), and a large retractable recumbent crest which it raises when threatened.
It also has a loud voice, and in captivity is a capable mimic.
Moluccans as Pets:
This intelligent and complex parrot is emotionally very needy and not a bird for the faint hearted. They tend to form close bonds with one person and may attack others in the household if they are not properly trained. They can develop severe emotional problems when separated from their mate (human or otherwise).
This all being said, this is an absolutely wonderful pet for the right person who enjoys spending a lot of time with their pet and is willing to provide this training with the love and attention it deserves. Many people own Moluccans who have no behavioral problems at all, and yet the list of Moluccans with behavioral problems may just be as long.
A well-adjusted and trained Moluccan is sweet and cuddly and totally devoted to their owner. If their special needs are not met, they may scream incessantly. Males tend to develop aggressive tendencies as they get older that need to be curtailed through continuous training.
The Moluccan Cockatoo is obviously not a good choice for inexperienced parrot owner. The perfect Moluccan owner should have a gentle, yet disciplined disposition, who appreciates these special parrots for the special beings they are.
While working at a rescue organization, I met one such special cockatoo. He was extremely noisy, incredibly affectionate -- you could basically cuddle with him all day long -- and he was a real performer. Indeed a prize winner at American's Funniest Videos. He loved to dance and put on quite a show. Sadly, he is very plucked and the situation he is in right now is desperately sad. The realization that acquiring such a creature without first considering your personality and the personality of your family, and all the ramifications for your lifestyle and changes necessary to accommodate this new pet can have devastating results for any moluccan brought into this situation.
Cockatoo owners need lots of time on their hand to spend with their pets. It really is difficult for working people to be able to accommodate this needy pet, unless they have a well-furnished bird room (instead of a cage), preferably with a fun outside retreat and several hours to spend with this pet after work. Even better if it is bonded with other family members who are willing to spend time with this precious cockatoo.
This cockatoo will never outgrow his or her great need for affection and they have immeasurable amounts of love to give. He will entertain you for hours with his antics and technical skills that enable him to eventually figure out how to get around most locks (be sure to padlock his cage). This cockatoo is very intelligent and this mind should be nurtured by providing plenty of mental stimuli and training.
Thousands of these beautiful parrots end up discarded in rescue organizations that cannot possibly provide them with the special attention they so crave. Many develop severe behavioral problems, including excessive screaming and extreme feather plucking even self-mutilation. Once that final stage of self-mutilation has been reached, vets often suggest euthanasia to stop further injuries and suffering
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 moluccensis aka Psittacus moluccensis ... English: Salmon-crested Cockatoe, Moluccan Cockatoos ...Dutch: Molukken Kakatoe, Zalmkuif Kakatoe ... German: Molukkenkkadu, Rothaubenkakadu ... French: Cacatoès des Moluques
CITES I - Protected Species
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.
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