Scientific Classification

Common Name

lesser sulphur-crested cockatoo

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Aves

Order

Psittaciformes

Family

Cacatuidae

Genus Species

Cacatua (referring to the bird's call) sulphurea (yellow)

Fast Facts

Description

This cockatoo is a large white parrot with a yellow crest and ear spot, yellow under the wings and tail, and a hooked beak.

Size

Approximately 30 to 32.5 cm (12 to 13 in.)

Weight

Approximately 300 to 350 g (10.5 to 12.3 oz.)

Diet

Includes seeds, nuts, fruits, berries, and some insects

Incubation

Approximately 30 days

Clutch Size

2 to 6 eggs

Sexual Maturity

Approximately 2 to 3 years

Life Span

65 or more years

Range

Australia and southeast Asia

Habitat

Found in forests, scrubs, and grasslands

Population

1,000 to 2,499 individuals

Status 

IUCN: Critically Endangered
CITES: Appendix I
USFWS: Critically Endangered

Fun Facts

Lesser sulphur-crested cockatoos are the smallest of the sulphur-crested parrots.

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 most gardeners. These birds are often regarded as pests because of their diets (sometimes feeding on crops).

They aid in seed dispersal through their eating of fruit.

Unsustainable collection for the pet trade industry has caused a drastic decline in this species' wild population.

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.org/datazone/search/species_search.html

xmission.com/~hoglezoo/birds/cockatoo.htm

BirdLife International 2018. Cacatua sulphurea. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T22684777A131874695. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22684777A131874695.en. Downloaded on 09 March 2020.

Photo Credit: Lesser-sulphur_crested_cockatoo_31l07.jpg. Source: Wikimedia Commons. Image by: Snowmanradio. Year Created: 3 July 2007. Website: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lesser-sulphur_crested_cockatoo_31l07.JPG. License: CC by SA 2.0