Sulphur-crested cockatoo

Description

A white macaw with a crest formed by long yellow curved feathers and others that cover the ears, also yellow. The underside of the wings and tail are yellow. The sexes are similar, but they present a slight sexual dimorphism: the male's iris is black whereas the females is chestnut brown or a dark reddish shade. They are both pale blue around their eyes. The beak and legs are a dark shade of grey.

Ethology

This is a gregarious and noisy bird; it moves around in pairs or family groups in the reproduction season but it gathers in flocks during the rest of the year. They generally build their nests in holes in trees. The brood is usually 2 or 3 eggs that are incubated by both parents for some 30 days and the hatchings stay in the nest for six or seven weeks.

Interesting facts

These birds are no longer endangered, despite the loss of habitat and the trapping of individuals for the pet trade, which exert constant pressure on this species. In New Guinea, habitat loss is beginning to be a real problem for the island's populations.