The best cockatoo?

[Cynth]

In your opinion, what is the best cackatoo for personality? There are so many kinds and colors. Do some not talk? I always have found that cackatoos are needy and pluckers so havent considered getting one but over the years, I really have thought of getting one. Any suggestions and what about where to find one??

 

[Sarahmoluccan]

Hmmmm... that's so hard to say and super subjective. I'm really curious about pink cockatoos, galahs and Major Mitchells are suppose to more even temperaments.

There are lots of cockatoos in rescues. If you have rescue near you that what I would recommend. While there are common traits personalities can differ wildly within the the same species. Most rescues will want you to visit the birds often before you bring one home. That's an excellent opportunity to get to learn the temperament and personality of any potential new bird you want add to your household. Plus I'm pro adult over baby bird as they are more settled into their personality and I find more predictable.

 

[Xoetix]

I think it's so hard to say...

I have a sulphur crested, and she's perfect - for me. She might be considered a ridiculous hellion by someone else. I have a deep love for umbrellas, and have met some that are just amazing, and a few that are bordering psychopathic.

I think every species has its ups and downs, and even within each species you're sure to find some that are great and exactly what you want, and some that aren't.

 

[Shezbug]

So hard to say- I have met SC2's that I am certain were contracted to terrify and terrorise everyone they came across then I have met some that are so sweet and gentle (not mine!) they win the hearts of even bird phobic people.
I have met Galahs that are so friendly quiet and calm and they only made pleasant sounds then I have seen others that I never wanted to see again due to their shifty want to bite you and enjoyment of whistling or screaming to try and burst the ear drums of all humans around (the one at my nans house stands out in my mind here lol).
Seen MM2s who were terrifying and others that were soft as marshmallows.
Corellas short and long billed- have met both charming sweeties and cheeky biting demons.

There is no saying which the best could be- it will be the one you meet who you like the best I would think...

 

[Icey]

I have had a sulphur crested cockatoo, and a moluccan cockatoo and now have an umbrella cockatoo.
They can all be sweet and non pluckers.
I believe alot of it depends on their envoronment and their diet. They all love attention and need to be kept entertained, whether it be from toys, foraging, or interracting with us.
I had to reluctantly rehome my first two when we moved overseas, or I would still have them all.

 

[sunnysmom]

I think there are very general statements that can be made about different species of toos but I don't think you can lump a species together and say this one is sweet, this one doesn't pluck etc because it depends on so many factors. As Icey mentioned environment plays a big roll. There are factual things, like a Moluccan's scream is one of the loudest. Goffins are known to be very mechanical. Galahs voices are softer than a lot of other cockatoos. The cockatoos that are needy are because people made them that way. If you read about how cockatoos are raised in the wild and then how they're raised in captivity, we have created the neediness in cockatoos. That's not to say that with proper training, etc that can't be corrected but most people don't have the dedication, determination, aptitude etc to work with cockatoos. So they unfortunately get passed from home to home. Cockatoos are amazing. My goffin is my best buddy. He is a wonderful bird for me. I am his 4th home that I KNOW OF. I believe he had at least one more than that if not many more. Any cockatoo is a commitment. You have to be willing to really learn about them and work to understand them. I don't know if any cockatoo is really "easy". They're smart and will test you. I am very much team cockatoo and completely love them. But they need a large cage, lots of enrichment, a proper diet, training and attention. There are many, many cockatoos in rescues. So, I would check rescues near you and try to meet some if you think you want one. (And I don't want to make it sound like rescue birds are "problem" birds. They're not. Many are there because their owners were elderly, had to move, the chlld went away to college, the owner really didn't know how to take care of a bird, etc.)

 

[Cynth]

So hard to say- I have met SC2's that I am certain were contracted to terrify and terrorise everyone they came across then I have met some that are so sweet and gentle (not mine!) they win the hearts of even bird phobic people.
I have met Galahs that are so friendly quiet and calm and they only made pleasant sounds then I have seen others that I never wanted to see again due to their shifty want to bite you and enjoyment of whistling or screaming to try and burst the ear drums of all humans around (the one at my nans house stands out in my mind here lol).
Seen MM2s who were terrifying and others that were soft as marshmallows.
Corellas short and long billed- have met both charming sweeties and cheeky biting demons.

There is no saying which the best could be- it will be the one you meet who you like the best I would think...

Thats hilarious. I feel that way about amazons...never again!!

 

[Cynth]

I think there are very general statements that can be made about different species of toos but I don't think you can lump a species together and say this one is sweet, this one doesn't pluck etc because it depends on so many factors. As Icey mentioned environment plays a big roll. There are factual things, like a Moluccan's scream is one of the loudest. Goffins are known to be very mechanical. Galahs voices are softer than a lot of other cockatoos. The cockatoos that are needy are because people made them that way. If you read about how cockatoos are raised in the wild and then how they're raised in captivity, we have created the neediness in cockatoos. That's not to say that with proper training, etc that can't be corrected but most people don't have the dedication, determination, aptitude etc to work with cockatoos. So they unfortunately get passed from home to home. Cockatoos are amazing. My goffin is my best buddy. He is a wonderful bird for me. I am his 4th home that I KNOW OF. I believe he had at least one more than that if not many more. Any cockatoo is a commitment. You have to be willing to really learn about them and work to understand them. I don't know if any cockatoo is really "easy". They're smart and will test you. I am very much team cockatoo and completely love them. But they need a large cage, lots of enrichment, a proper diet, training and attention. There are many, many cockatoos in rescues. So, I would check rescues near you and try to meet some if you think you want one. (And I don't want to make it sound like rescue birds are "problem" birds. They're not. Many are there because their owners were elderly, had to move, the chlld went away to college, the owner really didn't know how to take care of a bird, etc.)

I used to work for a rescue and had many birds for them, just never a too. I loved training them. Mississippi doesnt really have birds in rescue right now. I think a too would love it here with me.
The voice analysis is helpful. Thank you.

 

[Danny64]

It seems to me that as birds get bigger, meaning that the species gets larger, that individual birds seem to exhibit different personalities of their own. I think if you examine 20 Zebra Finches, they will all be fairly similar in behavior. Make that 20 Umbrella Cockatoos, and I think that the behaviors will really start to differ and be unique, so I do not think that you can associate a lot of behaviors to a specific species. Buy the specific bird that seems to work well with you.

Danny

 

[choplady]

I think there are very general statements that can be made about different species of toos but I don't think you can lump a species together and say this one is sweet, this one doesn't pluck etc because it depends on so many factors. As Icey mentioned environment plays a big roll. There are factual things, like a Moluccan's scream is one of the loudest. Goffins are known to be very mechanical. Galahs voices are softer than a lot of other cockatoos. The cockatoos that are needy are because people made them that way. If you read about how cockatoos are raised in the wild and then how they're raised in captivity, we have created the neediness in cockatoos. That's not to say that with proper training, etc that can't be corrected but most people don't have the dedication, determination, aptitude etc to work with cockatoos. So they unfortunately get passed from home to home. Cockatoos are amazing. My goffin is my best buddy. He is a wonderful bird for me. I am his 4th home that I KNOW OF. I believe he had at least one more than that if not many more. Any cockatoo is a commitment. You have to be willing to really learn about them and work to understand them. I don't know if any cockatoo is really "easy". They're smart and will test you. I am very much team cockatoo and completely love them. But they need a large cage, lots of enrichment, a proper diet, training and attention. There are many, many cockatoos in rescues. So, I would check rescues near you and try to meet some if you think you want one. (And I don't want to make it sound like rescue birds are "problem" birds. They're not. Many are there because their owners were elderly, had to move, the chlld went away to college, the owner really didn't know how to take care of a bird, etc.)

How should a cockatoo be raised in your opinion to prevent the neediness that you said was caused from how they were raised?

 

[sunnysmom]

How should a cockatoo be raised in your opinion to prevent the neediness that you said was caused from how they were raised?

Honestly I don't think we should breed cockatoos or at a minimum it should be regulated. But, I think cockatoos should be parent raised. They are weaned too early and sent to homes too young. In the wild, baby toos can stay with their parents for a year.

The Inconvenient Truth About …Cockatoos

Cockatoos are one of the most consistently relinquished parrots, handed over to sanctuaries and rescue organizations with regularity, after being deemed just too difficult. Clients with cockatoos m…

pamelaclarkonline.com

 

[Jayced!!]

Everyone else in this thread has good advice! You got some of the pros in here LOL!

Cockatoos can honestly be one of the more challenging birds to keep, and are something to really consider both the pros and cons of, and how much we can honestly handle at whatever given point in our lives! There's a few general themes that you'll see with each species, though every individual is different, and most will go through multiple homes in their lifetime. So definitely recommend looking into your local rescues to see any potential cockatoos nearby!

Atleast in my experience, I haven't been able to find a "definitive personality" in XYZ species of cockatoo. Like generally, people say that females tend to be more cuddly. Or Umbrellas tend to be milder than Moluccans . Or Corellas in general tend to more hyper, or that the black cockatoos and palms are less screamy, whatever have you. I've met both absolute terrors and complete sweethearts in many of the popular species, and it seems to just boil down to how every cockatoo is unique in their individual personality. Like my Umbrella totally plays into that idea that Umbrellas are milder than Moluccans, though my best friend's Umbrella completely turns that on its head. General ideas can apply to many members of XYZ species, though ultimately each bird will have their own personality.

As for cockatoo talking? It seems pretty random honestly LOL. Some people will have birds that are the total opposite of this, but from my experience it seems that the bigger guys... Sulfurs, Umbrellas, Moluccans, etc. Will tend to have a couple words or phrases that they say pretty well, though are pretty mumbly for the most part? I feel like the smaller guys like the Galahs and many Corellas (completely unsure about goffins though!) Tend to speak a little bit more clearly with more phrases. Again, take that with a pinch of salt because talking in general for birds is super random to begin with. Certain species are more prone to doing it/doing it super well over others, but no bird is guaranteed to talk.

Though something that I'll say that can be applied to most cockatoos is that they're notoriously needy/demanding. You also need to be confident when handling them, as those guys will sniff out your hesitation in a heartbeat and use it to their advantage ... many are also super loud!

At the end of the day, take what I say with a grain of salt as I wouldn't necessarily consider myself a "Cockatoo Person" like alot of these awesome posters are! I've just worked with and owned some... Though I'm totally biased in the Slender-Billed Corellas being a lot of fun in regards to the white cockatoos! Definitely one of my favorite species! Obviously taking any excuse to send photos of one of these guys! Unfortunately not mine, I just work with him!

 

[sunnysmom]

Everyone else in this thread has good advice! You got some of the pros in here LOL!

Cockatoos can honestly be one of the more challenging birds to keep, and are something to really consider both the pros and cons of, and how much we can honestly handle at whatever given point in our lives! There's a few general themes that you'll see with each species, though every individual is different, and most will go through multiple homes in their lifetime. So definitely recommend looking into your local rescues to see any potential cockatoos nearby!

Atleast in my experience, I haven't been able to find a "definitive personality" in XYZ species of cockatoo. Like generally, people say that females tend to be more cuddly. Or Umbrellas tend to be milder than Moluccans . Or Corellas in general tend to more hyper, or that the black cockatoos and palms are less screamy, whatever have you. I've met both absolute terrors and complete sweethearts in many of the popular species, and it seems to just boil down to how every cockatoo is unique in their individual personality. Like my Umbrella totally plays into that idea that Umbrellas are milder than Moluccans, though my best friend's Umbrella completely turns that on its head. General ideas can apply to many members of XYZ species, though ultimately each bird will have their own personality.

As for cockatoo talking? It seems pretty random honestly LOL. Some people will have birds that are the total opposite of this, but from my experience it seems that the bigger guys... Sulfurs, Umbrellas, Moluccans, etc. Will tend to have a couple words or phrases that they say pretty well, though are pretty mumbly for the most part? I feel like the smaller guys like the Galahs and many Corellas (completely unsure about goffins though!) Tend to speak a little bit more clearly with more phrases. Again, take that with a pinch of salt because talking in general for birds is super random to begin with. Certain species are more prone to doing it/doing it super well over others, but no bird is guaranteed to talk.

Though something that I'll say that can be applied to most cockatoos is that they're notoriously needy/demanding. You also need to be confident when handling them, as those guys will sniff out your hesitation in a heartbeat and use it to their advantage ... many are also super loud!

At the end of the day, take what I say with a grain of salt as I wouldn't necessarily consider myself a "Cockatoo Person" like alot of these awesome posters are! I've just worked with and owned some... Though I'm totally biased in the Slender-Billed Corellas being a lot of fun in regards to the white cockatoos! Definitely one of my favorite species! Obviously taking any excuse to send photos of one of these guys! Unfortunately not mine, I just work with him!

Oh my goodness. I love him! So cute. I was asked recently to foster a corella and it's killing me that I can't right now. Such cuties and at least where I am, we don't see them that often. I agree that I don't think cockatoos speak as clearly as some other species. The umbrellas I know all talked but much of it was more mumblely with like you said some distinct words. My goffin talks. About 15 words or so but I think he could say more if he wanted to. I think he speaks pretty clearly but I have had other people say that they can't understand what he's saying.

 

[Icey]

Dolly, my umbrella cockatoo talks with a sort of clear voice. When she's in a mood and telling me or hubby off, it sounds like she's got a mouthful of marbles. And of, course, don't forget the "toode" with the wings and the head.

 

[JimmyD2]

I know this is an older thread, but who knows, maybe this'll re-spark interest in a lesser known, or at least a lesser common 2. I did see one entry by a person who knows.

I have a female Slender Bill, Jackie. Had her for almost fifteen years, got her when she was four months. Yes, some might consider it too young for weaning. My vet said she'd have preferred another month or two with the parents, so not too bad.

Anyway, except for being a little jealous of the wifey (Jackie WAS the first woman by about five years) she's great. Very quiet, no screaming at all, (one exuberant high-pitched whistle) and very independent and non-needy. Non-destructive. Her toys get rotated, but she never destroys them. Don't get me wrong, she'll take scritches or sit on your shoulder all day, but doesn't NEED to. Potty trained, "You go potty" and she'll shake her head if she doesn't need too. Took about a week when she was about six months.

When I say jealous, she's territorial about her cage, but smart enough to know that if she gets threatening (she'll puff up to the size of a football and sway back and forth, pretty darned intimidating) my wife will simply walk away instead of feeding if I'm out of town for a few days. Next time Cindy (wifey) comes by, she'll just chill at the back of her cage until food is dispersed. If we're both gone for a few days, neighbor kid (who she loves) comes over. More than that, birdie daycare at my vet, who, in spite of the fact that she's been solely an avian vet for about forty years, had never seen a slender bill until Jackie. They get along like gangbusters.

Also, for the last five years, she's never been locked in her cage. As in, never. She'll put herself inside when it's time to sleep. She's always been fully flighted, but she just chills up on top, where most of her toys are, as well as bowls where she gets millet sprigs or some spinach. Or whatever we're eating. She's the worst beggar in the world. Which I know I've contributed to. Yeah, keep the avocado and chocolate and other caffeine containing items away, but she loves a gulp of (not too hot) coffee now and then. And steak, a chip, roasted chicken (little cannibal!) some egg (same!) cheese, a chunk of bread, fresh veggie, a 1/2 tator tot. She's a total omnivore.

Says, "Hi bird", "Hey whatcha doin", "hey you", "go potty" and not much else. Nothing new in at least ten years. I was hoping for something from birdie day care, but nope. Oh, she WHISPERS those phrases as well. Never had another bird that whispered.

Took me years to find her specific breed because it called out with everything I wanted. I don't think there are any active breeding pairs currently in the US. Bummer.

Her predecessor was a bare-eye, Jack, who was poisoned in a very unfortunate manner (I missed a small metal tag in a new toy, damn me). He was great, and very missed, but wow, no comparison. Oh, he was a better flyer (had 60 acres and we used to go flying, Jackie too) but she did well. She's much heavier, and much less of a wing area to body weight/size ratio.

Yeah, I know, I do everything wrong, but d*mn it, birds gotta fly, you know?

Here she is.

My best,
James

 

[Shezbug]

I know this is an older thread, but who knows, maybe this'll re-spark interest in a lesser known, or at least a lesser common 2. I did see one entry by a person who knows.

I have a female Slender Bill, Jackie. Had her for almost fifteen years, got her when she was four months. Yes, some might consider it too young for weaning. My vet said she'd have preferred another month or two with the parents, so not too bad.

Anyway, except for being a little jealous of the wifey (Jackie WAS the first woman by about five years) she's great. Very quiet, no screaming at all, (one exuberant high-pitched whistle) and very independent and non-needy. Non-destructive. Her toys get rotated, but she never destroys them. Don't get me wrong, she'll take scritches or sit on your shoulder all day, but doesn't NEED to. Potty trained, "You go potty" and she'll shake her head if she doesn't need too. Took about a week when she was about six months.

When I say jealous, she's territorial about her cage, but smart enough to know that if she gets threatening (she'll puff up to the size of a football and sway back and forth, pretty darned intimidating) my wife will simply walk away instead of feeding if I'm out of town for a few days. Next time Cindy (wifey) comes by, she'll just chill at the back of her cage until food is dispersed. If we're both gone for a few days, neighbor kid (who she loves) comes over. More than that, birdie daycare at my vet, who, in spite of the fact that she's been solely an avian vet for about forty years, had never seen a slender bill until Jackie. They get along like gangbusters.

Also, for the last five years, she's never been locked in her cage. As in, never. She'll put herself inside when it's time to sleep. She's always been fully flighted, but she just chills up on top, where most of her toys are, as well as bowls where she gets millet sprigs or some spinach. Or whatever we're eating. She's the worst beggar in the world. Which I know I've contributed to. Yeah, keep the avocado and chocolate and other caffeine containing items away, but she loves a gulp of (not too hot) coffee now and then. And steak, a chip, roasted chicken (little cannibal!) some egg (same!) cheese, a chunk of bread, fresh veggie, a 1/2 tator tot. She's a total omnivore.

Says, "Hi bird", "Hey whatcha doin", "hey you", "go potty" and not much else. Nothing new in at least ten years. I was hoping for something from birdie day care, but nope. Oh, she WHISPERS those phrases as well. Never had another bird that whispered.

Took me years to find her specific breed because it called out with everything I wanted. I don't think there are any active breeding pairs currently in the US. Bummer.

Her predecessor was a bare-eye, Jack, who was poisoned in a very unfortunate manner (I missed a small metal tag in a new toy, damn me). He was great, and very missed, but wow, no comparison. Oh, he was a better flyer (had 60 acres and we used to go flying, Jackie too) but she did well. She's much heavier, and much less of a wing area to body weight/size ratio.

Yeah, I know, I do everything wrong, but d*mn it, birds gotta fly, you know?

Here she is.

My best,
James View attachment 463139

Awww hi Jackie!!
One of my favourite 2s is the long/slender billed corella, I very nearly brought one home before finding my macaws breeder! These guys are such fun to watch in the wild.

 

[JimmyD2]

I plan to see them in the wild one day. Mine is sure a goofball. I imagine a group would be a ball!

What macaw did you end up with?

I held a hyacinth more than twenty years ago at a bird show in Southern Cal. Magnificent fellow he was! But I like them all...

 

[JimmyD2]

Oops... I'll bet a B&G.

Avatar!

 

[Somebirdie]

Another vote for long billed corellas!
our boy Apollo is in an aviary with our short billed corella, Sailor.
Apollo is the biggest love bug ever.

Harvey the red tailed black is wonderful to look at but much more challenging in his personality lol