![]() ![]() They are able to use a branch for scratching their backs. White cockatoos are very smart and inquisitive birds.To bathe, white cockatoos fly through wet leaves in the treetops or hang upside-down during the rain.Preening distributes this dust throughout their plumage, providing important waterproofing to cope with a tropical, wet climate. These are powder-down birds, whose feathers produce dust that can sometimes be quite heavy.When birds use the feathers on their face to cover their beaks, they convey a welcoming, non-aggressive message. As with all birds, cockatoos use their body language for communication.The word "cockatoo" originates from the Malay word for these birds, "kakaktua," meaning "older sister”.The lowering of a crest may indicate friendliness, calmness, and general approachability. If approaching a cockatoo, the raised crest may warn not to touch them - at the risk of being bitten. When raised, it can indicate a number of intentions: displaying for its mate calling its flock members defending its flock or territory or expressing curiosity, excitement, fear surprise, or frustration. The major purpose of a cockatoo's crest is communication.Signs of illness in a cockatoo can include runny eyes, sluggish behaviour, unusually coloured droppings (likely indicating blood in the digestive tract), sleeping more than normally, droopy wings, tail bobbing when sleeping (indicating difficulty in breathing), sleeping on the bottom of the cage (birds naturally want to be high on a perch), sudden change in or unusual behaviour, feather plucking, biting themselves, sudden weight loss or gain, and a drop in appetite, among other symptoms. Qualified avian veterinary care is required, both for prevention of disease, and for care in the event of a major illness or trauma. An often cited rule of thumb among avian enthusiasts and veterinarians is: "If the bird looks sick, it is likely to be very, very sick – possibly near death". In the wild, it has been observed that a flock will force out an unhealthy bird for fear of attracting predators. A sick bird naturally will try to hide its health issues. Assorted fresh fruits and vegetables and properly created pellets available at many good pet stores are more appropriate. Seeds provide little nutrition (they are mostly fat) and is considered similar to a person living on junk food. Health issues with captive birds are common since many people do not provide a proper diet for cockatoos. Pet white cockatoos may raise their crests upon training, or when something catches their interest such as a new toy or person. Like other cockatoos, white cockatoos can learn a large number of words, and are able to construct simple sentences with the words they learn. This species is known for producing large quantities of feather dust, which may be problematic for humans with respiratory problems or allergies. ![]() In a cage, with no escape path, they can be subjected to stress which often leads to feather picking (as with many pet birds). They have a "fight or flight" flock mentality, and generally prefer to fly away from danger. They have very strong beaks which can be easily crack walnuts or maim fingers. They can become very bonded (or dependent) on their human companion and this combined with their long life and often misunderstood behaviours can lead to issues. They are often used in live animal acts in zoos and amusement parks because they are naturally acrobatic and easily trained, because of their highly social nature and high level of intelligence.Ĭockatoos present several difficulties for their owners. Although capable of imitating basic human speech, they are not considered the most able speakers among parrots. ![]() Anyone not used to cockatoo behavior may find this cuddling behavior odd, as most parrots do not cuddle like the umbrella cockatoo. They are often called "velcro birds" because they like to cuddle with people, especially their owners, or primary care-taker. White cockatoos are kept as pets because they can be very affectionate, bond closely with people and are valued for their beauty. ![]()
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