Umbrella Cockatoo

Looks how to spot one

Feathered; large all-white cockatoo with a broad, rounded crest

A big, snowy-white cockatoo about 46 cm long. Its crest is made of wide, backward-curving white feathers that lie flat most of the time but fan out into a half-circle, like an opened umbrella, when the bird is excited or surprised. The undersides of the wings and tail carry a soft lemon-yellow wash that shows in flight. The beak is dark grey and the bare eye ring is off-white. The plumage produces plenty of fine powder down, which gives the feathers a soft, matt look. Males tend to have a broader head and a larger beak than females.124

Personality what they are like

A warm, cuddly and charming companion that wants to be close to its people much of the day. It is sensitive and very social, and it may attach strongly to one person, another bird or even a favourite object. Its voice is very loud, and it will call out when it feels left alone, so it suits a household that can give plenty of time, company and patient training.34

Daily activity how busy a day looks

High. This cockatoo needs daily time out of its cage on a play stand or in a safe room, lots of chewing and shredding toys, and foraging activities so it can work for its food. Busy, engaged birds are happier and calmer.34

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Umbrella cockatoos make a lot of powder down, so regular bathing or misting helps keep the feathers clean, and a well-ventilated room with frequent dusting keeps the fine dust under control. Offer plenty of safe wood and other materials to chew for beak care.43

Home where they are happiest

Needs a very large, strong, well-welded cage, ideally with a play top, as it does not do well in cramped quarters. LafeberVet suggests bar spacing of 1.3-1.9 cm and perches of about 1.9-5 cm in diameter. Plan for a sturdy build, since this is a powerful chewer.34

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Wild birds eat seeds, nuts, fruit, berries and roots, and may take some insects. For a pet, base the diet on a good formulated food with fresh vegetables and fruit, some nuts and seeds, and food presented in ways that encourage foraging rather than seed alone.123

Company who they like around

Extremely social. In the wild it lives in pairs or small groups and gathers in bigger flocks to roost at dusk, and a pet needs a lot of daily company and interaction to feel secure and content.23

The story where it all began

The white cockatoo was described by Müller in 1776, with the name alba simply meaning white. Its history with people goes back much further: during China's Tang Dynasty it was kept as a treasured pet and influenced religious art showing the bodhisattva Guan Yin, and in 1229 the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II received one as a diplomatic gift. It comes only from a small cluster of islands in the North Moluccas of Indonesia. Heavy trapping for the pet trade in the late 20th century, when official quotas were sometimes exceeded many times over, along with forest loss, led to its listing as Endangered. It is now protected under CITES Appendix II, and the United States listed it as threatened in 2014. Many birds live in captivity worldwide, where it is still one of the most familiar large cockatoos.1325

Recognised by the official bits

IUCN Red List

Endangered.2

CITES

Appendix II.2

US Fish and Wildlife Service

Listed as threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in a 2014 final rule.5

Taxonomy

Described by Müller in 1776. The species name alba is Latin for white.1