Scientific Classification

Common Name

Ducorp's cockatoo

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Aves

Order

Psittaciformes

Family

Cacatuidae

Genus Species

Cacatua (referring to the bird's call) ducorpsii

Fast Facts

Description

This is a large white parrot with yellow under the wings and tail and blue skin around the eyes. The crest is completely white. The beak is hooked and blue-gray blue.

Size

Approximately 33 cm (13 in.)

Weight

Approximately 500 to 630 g (17.5 to 22.05 oz)

Diet

Seeds, nuts, fruits, berries, and some insects

Incubation

Approximately 30 days

Clutch Size

2 to 6 eggs

Sexual Maturity

Approximately 5 to 6 years

Life Span

Approximately 65 or more years

Range

Solomon Islands; Papua, New Guinea

Habitat

Inhabits dense forests

Population

The population has not been assessed but the species is considered common within its range.

Status 

IUCN: Least Concern
CITES: Appendix II
USFWS: Not listed

Fun Facts

These birds are often regarded as pests because of their diets (sometimes feeding on crops); licensed culling is permitted in certain states.

Both parents take part in incubating the eggs.

Cockatoos can mimic the sounds of other animals, including people.

Cockatoos can hold their food in one foot and break pieces off of it with the other foot.

Cockatoos live in small loose flocks.

They are very gregarious and quickly learn to mimic. These birds also have a very shrill cry.

Ecology and Conservation

Cockatoos are a food source for many animals larger than themselves.

Their feeding habits are very destructive, which annoys many gardeners.

Cockatoos aid in seed dispersal through their eating of fruit.

This species is relatively new to U.S. aviculture because these islands were closed to the export of birds for many years. Previously, only a small number were imported into the United States until late 1993 when the U.S. stopped commercial importation of most bird species.

This species is very common in the pet trade.

The U.S. Wild Bird Act forbids the commercial import of any bird listed by CITES which includes most parrots, which are endangered or threatened.

Bibliography

Austin, G. Birds of the World. New York. Golden Press, Inc., 1961.

Decoten, A.E. Handbook of Cockatoos. Neptune City, NJ. T.F.H. Pub., 1981.

Diefenbach, K. The World of Cockatoos. Neptune City. NJ. T.F.H. Publications, 1985.

Forshaw, J.M. Parrots of the World. Neptune City, NJ. T.F.H. Publications, 1977.

Gotch, A.F. Birds - Their Latin Names Explained. UK. Blandford Books Ltd., 1981.

Simpson, D.P. Cassell's Latin Dictionary. New York. Macmillan Publishing Company. 1959.

BirdLife International 2018. Cacatua ducorpsii . The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T22684823A130100557. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22684823A130100557.en. Downloaded on 13 March 2020.

Photo Credit: Cacatua_ducorpsii-5.jpg. Source: Wikimedia Commons. Image by: Mohd Rosdi Zainal Abidin. Year Created: 15 August 2008. Website: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cacatua_ducorpsii-5.jpg. License: CC by SA 2.0.