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About the Cockatoos
Cockatoos for sale are affectionate birds and are nicknamed "Velcro Birds" because they enjoy spending time with their owners. They are part of the parrot family and there are several species of cockatoos that are commonly kept as pets. However, they are not the easiest birds to care for as they require a lot of attention, can be loud and if neglected they can become depressed and eventually resort to destructive behaviors.
.Despite the hurdles of living and caring for a cockatoo, they are beautiful, affectionate creatures with attractive plumage. With the right care and attention, they can become your best companion. Here are 10 of the most popular cockatoo species to consider as pets.
Bare Eyed Cockatoo:
The Bared Eyed Cockatoo may not be the cutest parrot, but it makes up for it with personality. Sweet, playful, and intelligent, these birds are smaller than many cockatoo species. This makes them a good option for families with children and people who
Black Palm Cockatoo Parrots:
Black Palm Cockatoo are large, powerful birds that require a keeper with a lot of parrot experience. While hand-fed black palm cockatoos can make excellent pets, they still need constant training to keep them tamed. They are brave parrots that need brave owners who aren't intimidated by that massive beak.
Citron Cockatoos:
Citron cockatoos are quieter than most cockatoo species. However, they have big personalities and love to play and interact with their caregivers. Curious and affectionate, a citron cockatoo wants to be by your side throughout the day. So be prepared to spend several hours a day with this bird. Sulfur-crested cockatoos: Sulfur-crested cockatoos are highly intelligent and need a lot of space to play. Unless these birds receive adequate exercise and mental stimulation, they may resort to behaviors such as feather plucking and destructive chewing. Keepers should give their birds plenty of toys and several hours of attention each day
.Goffin's Cockatoos:
Goffin's Cockatoos need as much daily socialization as possible for their emotional health. These birds simply cannot thrive if neglected and will resort to destructive behavior if their social needs are not met. Intelligent and slightly mischievous, these birds are recommended for people experienced with large parrots.
Major Mitchell's Cockatoo:
The Major Mitchell's Cockatoo is an attractive and intelligent bird known for its colorful crest. Although a sight to behold, these cockatoos require special care and large enclosures that not all humans can accommodate. They are also recommended for those familiar with large parrots.
Moluccan Cockatoos:
Moluccan Cockatoos are affectionate birds that bond strongly to their masters. Anyone interested in a Moluccan Cockatoo should expect a cuddly and somewhat affectionate feathered friend, as these birds love to be around their favorite human. Therefore, they need someone who is home most of the day.
Rose-breasted Cockatoos:
Their striking pink and gray feathers and friendly personalities have made rose-breasted cockatoos popular pets. These birds can live up to 80 years in captivity with proper care. Also known as Galahs, they tend to be loud and bold. So don't expect a silent companion when you bring one home.
Umbrella Cockatoos:
Hand-fed umbrella cockatoos can be friendly, well-behaved pets. Many learn to do tricks and can mimic speech quite well. But being highly social birds, they tend to be very affectionate and even obsessively spend time with their favorite people. However, many are beloved pets that are gentle enough for older children.
Slender-Billed Cockatoos:
Slender-billed cockatoos, also known as long-beaked corelle, have long been popular pets in their native Australia and are starting to attract fans around the world. The needs of this cockatoo are similar to those of other large parrots. They crave interaction with their caregivers and need daily attention to maintain their emotional health.
What is an African Grey parrot?
African Gray parrots, commonly referred to as African grays, are native to the rainforests of central Africa, which extend in a belt across the continent from the Ivory Coast to western Kenya. The largest parrot in Africa, this species has silver feathers, a white mask, and a bright reddish tail. Males and females are very similar in appearance.
Their colors may be less striking than other parrots, but African grays are brilliant in other ways: they are among the smartest birds in the world and the greatest imitator of human speech among the approximately 350 known parrot species. Research has shown that birds have cognitive abilities equivalent to those of a five-year-old. They will also help members of their kind, even complete strangers, without expecting their altruism to be reciprocated.
Behavior and mating
Grays-grays are highly social species, flying through the air in noisy flocks and sleeping in large groups in the treetops every night. They feed in small groups of about 30 people, eating foods like oil palm nuts and the berries of the cola plant, grabbing them with their claws, and opening them with their strong beaks. Birds also sometimes prey on human crops, such as corn. Monogamous parrots, which mate for life, begin to mate between the ages of three and five. A pair will search for existing tree cavities where they can build a nest and lay a clutch of around three to four eggs for the female to incubate. Parents are attentive, build well-constructed nests, and feed their chicks together.
The threat of pets
Due to their intelligence and ability to mimic human speech, gray parrots are the most popular pet birds in the world. The birds breed well in captivity, and at least 1.3 million gray parrots have been legally exported from Africa over the past four decades, particularly to countries in the Middle East. (More info: Have parrots gotten too popular for their own good?)
However, hundreds of thousands more – possibly more – have died in transit or been illegally abducted from the forests of West and Central Africa as part of the illegal wildlife trade.
Gregarious and social, grays are relatively easy to catch. Trappers, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo, cut down trees to tear babies from nests or set up glue-covered sticks to trap sleeping adults en masse. The majority of gray parrots caught in the wild are at risk of dying in transit. (Learn more about the illegal trade in African gray parrots.)
In 2016, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, or CITES, which oversees international trade in rare species, made the controversial decision to ban all international trade in wild African gray parrots, except in areas "extraordinary circumstances". In 2018, the bird was listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. African gray parrots also suffer from habitat loss, particularly because they prefer to nest in tall trees attacked by loggers.
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