The Umbrella Cockatoo is a large and beautiful bird that is just bursting with personality.
These birds are fairly high maintenance, so the more you know about them the better off you will be.
Appearance
These birds have a flamboyant white crest and can grow up to 18 inches long. These birds can weigh anywhere from 1.1 to 1.4 pounds. Males have black eyes, while females have brown eyes. Both genders have grey feet and a black bill.
Umbrella Cockatoo Lifespan
Umbrella Cockatoos can live anywhere from 40 to 60 years in captivity when they are properly cared for. This makes owning one of these birds a fairly big long-term commitment.
The Umbrella Cockatoo’s Personality
One of the reasons that the Umbrella cockatoo has become such a popular pet is because of its playful and affectionate nature. These birds can be somewhat stubborn and fickle, but they make for excellent companions.
It is fairly common for these birds to become very attached to their owners as well as other birds they are close to on a regular basis. You will be able to teach these birds to “talk”, which can be extremely entertaining to say the least.
You will quickly find that Umbrella Cockatoos don’t mind being held and gently petted. They are a great choice even for those with small children. It is, however, important that you teach your kids how to handle these birds properly.
The eccentric nature of these birds makes these truly one of a kind. They do require a lot of attention on a regular basis though. This means that you will have to spend a decent amount of time with them outside of the cage each day.
If your bird isn’t getting enough attention, it will definitely let you know. It can be fairly loud when neglected. It is, however, rare for these birds to become truly aggressive. They have a very tranquil overall nature.
Natural Habitat
The Umbrella Cockatoo can be found in a variety of regions, including woodlands, forests, swamps, and mangroves. These birds spend a vast majority of their time in tree canopies and near rivers.
Umbrella Cockatoo Care Guide
1. Umbrella Cockatoo Diet
The natural diet of these birds consists of grain, coconuts, seeds, and nuts. These birds also require a decent amount of leafy greens and other vegetables. It is important that you give it high-quality grains and fresh sprouts as well.
You can also give your cockatoo pecans, almonds, walnuts, and hazelnuts. Don’t forget to also give it high-quality pellets that are specifically formulated for cockatoos. This will provide your pet with a balanced and nutritious diet that promotes good overall health.
These birds can be somewhat picky eaters, which is why you need to choose what you give it very carefully. They also love just about any type of berries.
While you can give your bird fruit, make sure that there aren’t any seeds or pits. You should also avoid giving them even the tiniest amount of chocolate, onions, or garlic.
2. Environment
Because these birds are fairly large, you will need to provide yours with a big cage where it has plenty of space to move around. If the enclosure is too small, it will begin picking out its own feathers.
Make sure that the cage you put this bird in has a plenty of toys and at least a couple of perches. You should regularly rotate the toys in the bird’s cage so that it doesn’t get bored playing with the same ones each day. It’s also a good idea to have ladders and other things for your bird to climb on inside its enclosure.
It is recommended that you have a separate cage to put your bird in at night. These birds require a minimum of 10 hours of sleep per day. It is important that their sleep is not interrupted.
3. Common Health Problems
As discussed above, self-mutilation can become a problem with these birds if they do not receive adequate mental stimulation on a regular basis. They are also prone to beak and feather disease. An inadequate diet can lead to fatty liver disease, which is why it is so important to feed these birds a variety of nutritious foods.
4. Grooming
These cockatoos are pretty good about keeping their own beaks and nails trimmed, provided you give them the proper perches and other things. If you notice any overgrowth, you’ll have to get trimming done at your vet or a bird groomer.
Make sure that your bird has a bowl of water that it can used to bathe itself when necessary. You’ll need to change out the water to avoid having your bird contract a bacterial infection of some kind.
It is also important to keep your bird’s feathers trimmed, but you should avoid doing it yourself unless you have experience.
Umbrella Cockatoo Price
You should expect to pay anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000 for an Umbrella Cockatoo. The average price for these birds is $2,000. The total amount that you pay depends largely on the breeder.
Conclusion
- Umbrella Cockatoos are large birds that can grow up to 18 inches long and 1.4 pounds.
- These birds can live up to 60 days if they are properly cared for.
- The affectionate and calm nature of these birds makes them a good pet to have if you have small children.
- You will need to devote at least a couple of hours each day to interacting with your bird.
- If you don’t get this bird enough attention, it is likely to get very noisy and even begin picking out its feathers.
- Make sure that you get a large cage for your cockatoo so it has enough space to move around and stays happy.
- A variety of toys is needed to keep these birds content and stimulated.
- You’ll have to give your bird a balanced diet that consists of high-quality pellets, seeds, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and berries.
- Regular grooming is important for these cockatoos.
