|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
LESSER SULPHUR-CRESTED COCKATOO
Cacatua sulphurea sulphurea
|
|
|
| |
Cacatua genus can be divided in to several genera: white (cactua), black (callocephalon, calyptorhynchus, probosciger) and pale pink (elophus). General characteristics of all cockatoos are medium size of 29 cm-gofin to 70 cm palm cockatoo, shot, wide tail and long, curved wings. Almost all cockatoos have crests. The crest is movable and fanlike. When the bird is angry or scared, it will rise its crest.
The crest can be white, yellow, multicolor or even black (palm cockatoo). They have powerful beak that is used for eating and protection. Lower part of the beak is wider and much shorter than the upper mandible. They live in big flocks. Cockatoos eat various seeds but prefer fruit as fruit is the main food in the wild. No matter the species they are easy to tame, and very emotional. If one doesn't get enough attention and love, it will start protesting by perking feathers or screaming. Cockatoos have very characteristic color of iris and this is also the way of telling the difference between sexes in mature birds. Male has black iris while female has dark reddish-brown one. |
|
|
Cockatoos originate from Australia , Solomon Islands , Philippines , Molucca Islands , Tasmania , Indonesian Archipelago and Papua New Guinea .
Lesser Sulphur – crested Cockatoo originates from Indonesian Archipelago, especially Celebes . An adult cockatoo reaches 40 cm in length, wing length is 25 cm and squared tail is 11 cm long. The upper mandible is conspicuously massive and reaches size of 4 cm. Head, back, breasts, wings and tail are white, while crest, inner part of wings and tail, as well as cheeks are pale yellow.
This species is distributed in five subspecies and has no mutations.
When well treated, this cockatoo soon becomes tame and devoted to its owner. It easily learns to repeat words and tunes, as well as to imitate other birds, alarms, phone rings etc. If kept singly in a room, it should be often allowed to move freely outside the cage. From spring to autumn, cockatoos can be kept in outdoor aviaries provided with a shelter. They enjoy in summer rain, stretching their wings until getting soaked. In the winter months they should be kept in a room at the temperature no lower than 10 *C. |
|
|
|
In mating period the courting male hops around the female, bending to the ground and making luring sounds. While this love dance, he erects his crest and both birds ruffle one another's feathers. They clutch in the tree stumps or if in captivity in big clutching houses. The female lays 2-3 eggs. It is interesting that during the day eggs are usually incubated by the male, and by the female at night. Incubation period lasts for 25 days and the young stay in the nest for the next two months. During this period the diet should be supplemented with raisins, unripe wheat, pea pods, dry bread soaked in sweetened milk or with mealworm larvae. Juveniles resemble the adult ones, however they have white beak and legs. If the female starts plucking the chick's feathers more protein should be added to the food. If kept with care and attention cockatoos can live up to 50 years.
The sexes in the Lesser sulphur-crested cockatoos differ by the color of the eyes. Male has blacking-brown and those of the female being reddish-brown. However, this stands just for the adult birds and they become mature in the age of four. Juvenile birds have pale beaks and legs. When being fed they flutter their wings, and about two week after hatching they begin to peck up the food brought by the parents. As soon as the adult birds show interest in rearing a new brood they start chasing away the youngsters. So these should be transferred to another aviary. |
|
In our conditions cockatoos should be fed on seed mix: sunflower, maize, oat, sorghum, hemp, walnut, hazelnut, unpeeled non-fried peanut, hard-boiled eggs and various additives (for feather quality, strong bones, iodine, honey; of course all this soaked in proper fluids), made by German manufacturer Vitakraft, also cookies made by the same manufacturer and with vitamins and minerals. Fruits are important part of cockatoos diet but some should be avoided like melon, watermelon, pear and apricot. Vegetables are also important and cockatoo should be fed with carrots, fresh cucumber, zucchini, sweet paprika, greens, spinach, parsley etc.
The cockatoos are mostly imported in our country. It is possible to get hand-fed specimens that are already tamed, very friendly and gentle. These hand-fed birds have special relationship with people because humans are their parents. One should have in mind that they cost more than other birds because they are hand-fed and already tamed.
Cockatoos are very emotional and have gentle souls. If they don't get enough attention they will depressed and self-destructive. This species is for those people who have enough time and patience for them. Cockatoos are full of love but also need much more than any other bird. Believe me when I say that they do deserve all the loving and care.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
