Goffin's Cockatoo
Cacatua goffiniana
Also called Tanimbar corella, Tanimbar cockatoo, Goffin cockatoo
From The Tanimbar Islands of Indonesia (Yamdena, Larat and Selaru), in coastal lowland forest and farmland. Introduced groups live in Singapore, the Kai Islands and Puerto Rico.123
A friendly guide, not veterinary advice. For anything about your pet's health, ask your vet.
At a glance the quick version
Looks how to spot one
Feathered; small white cockatoo with a short rounded crest
The smallest of the white cockatoos. It is mostly white with a pale salmon-pink patch between the beak and eye, and hidden salmon tints at the base of the crest and neck feathers. The undersides of the wings and tail are soft yellow. The beak is pale grey. Males have dark brown to black eyes and females reddish-brown eyes.213
Personality what they are like
A friendly, playful and mischievous little cockatoo that likes to be held and petted. It is a fast learner and a gifted puzzle-solver, able to work out latches and knots. It may learn some words, and it is generally quieter than the big cockatoos, though it will call out for attention. Setting gentle routines early helps.32
Daily activity how busy a day looks
High. It needs a steady supply of chew and puzzle toys and several hours of out-of-cage social time each day; Wikipedia cites at least four hours.32
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Like other cockatoos it makes powder down, so offer regular baths or misting. Keep plenty of safe chew items on hand, and secure cage doors because it is good at opening latches.43
Home where they are happiest
A roomy, well-built cage with escape-proof locks and space to climb, since it is small but very active. Wikipedia notes a recommended minimum enclosure length of 3 m for aviaries. LafeberVet gives cockatoo bar spacing of 1.3-1.9 cm.324
Food basics what goes in the bowl
Feed a quality pellet as the base with vegetables, some fruit, a few nuts and foraging treats, rather than seed alone. In the wild it has been seen using tools to open sea mango seeds.32
Company who they like around
Very social and likes to be involved in family life. It needs daily interaction and attention from its people.32
The story where it all began
The bird is named after Andreas Leopold Goffin, a Dutch naval officer. Its naming history is unusual: in 2000 researchers found that the original 1863 description actually referred to a different species, so it was formally renamed Cacatua goffiniana in 2004. It breeds readily in captivity, and more now live in human care than in the wild.2
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
A Goffin's cockatoo named Figaro at the Goffin Lab in Vienna made his own rake-like tools from wood splinters to reach food.2
- 2
In a 2013 study, Goffin's cockatoos solved a lock box that needed five different mechanisms opened in the correct order.2
- 3
Wild birds have been seen shaping and using tools to get at the seeds inside sea mango fruit.2
- 4
In a self-control test, some birds waited up to 80 seconds with a pecan in their beak to swap it for a preferred cashew.2
Recognised by the official bits
- IUCN Red List
- Near Threatened.1
- CITES
- Appendix I.1
- Taxonomy
- Formally named Cacatua goffiniana in 2004 after an 1863 name by Finsch turned out to belong to a different species.2
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Goffin's Cockatoo. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- Fresh food and waterevery day
- Cage linerevery day
- Full cleanevery week
- Bath offerevery 3 days
- Nails checkevery month
- Beak checkevery month
- EnrichmentPuzzles and foraging every dayevery day
- Out-of-cage timeAbout 3 hours a dayevery day
- Vet check-upevery year
Owner questions the things everyone asks
How often should I feed my Goffin's Cockatoo?
Offer fresh food and water every day. Furry Diary's starting plan is to provide a quality pellet base with vegetables, some fruit, a few nuts, and foraging treats daily. For exact amounts, check the food label and ask your vet.32 Furry Diary plan
What does a Goffin's Cockatoo eat, and what should it never eat?
Feed a quality pellet as the base with vegetables, some fruit, a few nuts, and foraging treats, rather than seed alone. Never give avocado, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, or high-salt foods; ask your vet for a full list of unsafe items.32
How much space does a Goffin's Cockatoo need?
Provide a roomy, well-built cage with escape-proof locks and space to climb. Wikipedia recommends a minimum enclosure length of 3 m for aviaries, and LafeberVet gives bar spacing of 1.3-1.9 cm. This active bird also needs several hours of out-of-cage time daily.324
What temperature, light or water does a Goffin's Cockatoo need?
Keep your bird in a warm, draft-free room with natural daylight cycles. Offer fresh water daily for drinking and bathing. Specific temperature ranges vary; ask your exotic-pet vet for guidance.3 Furry Diary plan
How often should I clean a Goffin's Cockatoo's home?
Change the cage liner every day and do a full cage clean once a week. Furry Diary's plan also includes offering a bath or misting every three days to manage powder down.4 Furry Diary plan
Can a Goffin's Cockatoo live with others?
This very social bird likes to be involved in family life and needs daily interaction with its people. It can live with other gentle birds if introduced carefully, but always supervise and ask a good breeder or vet for advice.32
How long does a Goffin's Cockatoo live?
With good care, a Goffin's Cockatoo can live between 30 and 45 years. This is a long-term commitment, so plan for its care throughout its life.3412
Can I handle a Goffin's Cockatoo?
Yes, this friendly and playful cockatoo likes to be held and petted. It needs gentle handling and early routines to stay tame. Furry Diary's plan includes about 3 hours of out-of-cage social time each day.32 Furry Diary plan
Written from the sources on this page, a few checked guides (VCA, ASPCA, RSPCA) and Furry Diary's own starting care plan. A friendly guide, not a vet's advice.
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- Tanimbar Corella - World Parrot Trust Parrot Encyclopedia parrots.orgused for names, size, weight, plumage, range, lifespan, status
- Tanimbar corella - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for size, weight, description, taxonomy, history, tool use, intelligence studies, care needs
- Goffin's Cockatoo Personality, Food & Care - Lafeber lafeber.comused for temperament, talking, noise, housing, toys, diet, lifespan, range
- Basic Information Sheet: Cockatoo - LafeberVet lafeber.comused for weight, lifespan, bar spacing, bathing
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Feeding times and frequency for your dog vcahospitals.comused for owner questions
- ASPCA: Dog grooming tips aspca.orgused for owner questions
- ASPCA: Cat grooming tips aspca.orgused for owner questions
- ASPCA: People foods to avoid feeding your pets aspca.orgused for owner questions
- RSPCA: What to feed your rabbit rspca.org.ukused for owner questions
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.