Birds in the family cacatuidae

Cockatoo Parrot

Pet cockatoos are often referred to as “velcro” birds because of their highly sociable nature and borderline obsessive need to be around the people in their lives. A cockatoo is a loving but demanding bird.

COLOR

Black, Gray, Pink, White
SIZE

large, medium
LIFESPAN

30 + years
SOUNDS

Vocal communicator
INTERACTION

Highly social

Cockatoos stand out from other parrot species with their dramatic crest feathers, dusty feathers, and varying shades of white, pink, gray and black. Pet cockatoos are often referred to as “velcro” birds because of their highly sociable nature and borderline obsessive need to be around the people in their lives. Cockatoos range in size from medium to large.

Types of Cockatoo Parrots

Types of Cockatoo parrots, their names are below

Blue & Gold Macaw

Green Winged Macaw

Hahn's Macaw

Hyacinth Macaw

Scarlet Macaw

Speech & Sound

Large macaws have equally large vocalizations, and their squawks and screeches can be quite loud and ear piercing. A potential macaw owner needs to take a macaw’s large sound into consideration, especially if he or she lives in an apartment and/or has nearby neighbors. Macaws can be taught to talk and they might also be inclined to whistle or to imitate sounds and noises they hear inside and outside the home.

Health & Common Conditions

Macaws can be prone to feather-destructive behaviors. If a complete veterinary exam rules out medical causes of feather plucking, boredom and/or lack of appropriate mental stimulation can be a cause. Offer your macaw an enriched environment with plenty of opportunities for play and exercise, such as a climbing nets and ropes, in addition to toys.

Macaws are also more susceptible to proventricular dilatation disease (PDD), psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD), psittacosis, beak malocclusion, and aspergillosis. Regular health checkups by an avian veterinarian can help diagnose and treat many disease processes early on.

It is normal for a macaw to sneeze a few times a day to clear out dust or dander from its nares, which might be accompanied by a clear discharge. If the sneezing is persistent and/or the discharge is not a clear color, contact your avian veterinarian.

Get a Macaw

Would a macaw be a good pet? That depends on you. Adding a macaw to your family means considering if you have the room, the time, the personality, and other factors that make a macaw a good companion for you. Because macaws need spacious accommodations and are long-lived, adding a macaw to the family needs to be thoroughly thought through.

Macaws are most likely to be sold in avian-specialty stores or from bird breeders. They are also sometimes available for adoption from avian rescue organizations.