Cockatoo
CAMI, a Moluccan (or Salmon-Crested) Cockatoo, joined us in April 2016 at the age of 21 after her private owners could no longer care for her. She is a stunning, highly entertaining, and talkative bird who loves to cuddle, play peek-a-boo, and steal the spotlight. But don’t let her soft feathers fool you—Cami is also a head-banging rock star! She has a passion for heavy metal and never misses a chance to dance and sing along.
She shares her space with our other two cockatoos—Jake, an Umbrella Cockatoo, and Casper, a Goffin’s Cockatoo. However, when it comes to romance, Cami has a very specific type: human men. She isn’t shy about showing affection, either. Her courtship ritual begins with a coy act of shyness, followed by an unexpected twist—she clucks like a chicken, her unique way of saying, “I love you!” The lucky men she chooses are often caught off guard, looking both amused and slightly embarrassed by her bold declarations.
Interestingly, despite living with two male cockatoos, Cami has never shown the same level of interest in them. It seems even in the animal kingdom, we all have our preferences!
ORDER: Psittaciformes
FAMILY: Cacatuidae
GENUS: Cacatua
SPECIE: Moluccensis
Cockatoos live in flocks, or cackles. They are monogamous and mate for life. The name “umbrella” is due to the way the crest on their head opens. They are also called the “white cockatoo.” They can be found in Indonesia and the Australasian realm, (Australia, New Guinea, and the Indonesian archipelago). Their crest is used for communication, and their feathers are covered in a powder to help waterproof them in a tropical climate. Think of putting powder in your shoes to help keep your feet dry. Mating season is from December to March where both the male and the female share incubating duties. After approximately 30 day and laying 2 to 3 eggs, the parents choose to raise only one baby. The other eggs were made just incase the first one didn’t work out. The baby learns to fly at about 3 months old but does not sexually mature until the age of 6. Their average lifespan in the wild is 30 to 40 yrs.
Threats
The biggest threat to the white cockatoos is illegal trapping for pet trade birds. Habitat loss and hunting comes in as a close second.
Conservation Status
EN - Endangered