Sulphur Crested Cockatoo

The Sulphur Crested Cockatoo got its name from its sulphur colored crest on its head.This parrot is the most elegant of its kind because of its snowy white feathers, a relatively black beak and a yellow crest on its head. They have also a distinctive manner of having their crests stand and open it when being alarmed.

Sulphur Crested Cockatoo

Scientifically called Cactua Galerita, Sulphur Crested Cockatoos are the largest of the cockatoo kind of birds. They are numerously found in Australia and in some lowland areas of New Guinea. Also called as Sulphur Cockatoos, this birds reaches up to 22 inches in length. Eyes of males are ivory black and the females are colored brown.

The Sulphur Crested Cockatoo found its habitat in tropical rainforests. They have a lifespan of 70 years in the wild and approximately 30 to 40 years in captivity. The females lay up to three eggs with an incubation period of 25 to 27 days.

Pet owners found this bird being curious and very intelligent. They are also disturbing being a household pet since they are naturally very loud producing a raucous screeching call.  They are also known to have the skill of geophagy, a process of chewing and ingesting soil with high clay content to detoxify food when they are sick or injured.

Sulphur Crested Cockatoos feed on seeds, fruits and larvae. They are also considered as pests by farmers since they dig and eat on newly planted seeds in a farm.

In Cebu Zoo, you may find a Sulphur Crested Cockatoo on its cage beside other parrots.

A Sulphur Crested Cockatoo munching a cooked banana in its cage in Cebu Zoo.