Moluccan Cockatoo

Moluccan Cockatoos (also called salmon-crested cockatoos) have salmon-pink colored feathers that cover most of their head crest. They will “display” these feathers when they are excited, angry, afraid, or thrilled. They have a very loud shrill call making them notably one of the loudest parrot species. They will also mimic other sounds around them including animals and people.

In the wild, they are typically a shy and cautious bird. Usually spotted late in the afternoon alone or in a small groups. The Moluccan Cockatoo is one of the largest white cockatoo species weighing approximately 2 pounds and reaching a size of 15-20 inches. Amazingly, they have a life expectancy of 65 years and can be expected to live even longer than that.
Their native habitat is the dense forests of southern Moluccan Islands and eastern Indonesia. Moluccan Cockatoos eat a variety of seeds, berries, fruits, nuts and some insects. Unfortunately, they have a reputation as pests to the local coconut plantations. This is primarily due to them going after the young coconuts in order to get the inner soft pulp and milk.