Cocktaoos

There is debate among ornithologists on whether the Cockatiel should ge classified among the cockatoos or not.

Popular genera:

• Palm Cockatoo – Length: 32 inches
• Black Cockatoos – Length: 20-26 inches
• White Cockatoos – Length: 20 inches
• Sulphur-crested Cockatoo – Length: 14 inches
• Salmon-crested Cockatoo – Length:  20 inches
• Rose Breasted Cockatoo – Length:  15 inches
• Little Corelia – Length: 16 inches
• Umbrella Cockatoo – Length:  16-18 inches
• Leadbeater’s Cockatoo – Length:  15 inches
• Gang-Gang Cockatoo – Length:  14 inches
• Cockatiel – Length: 12 inches

Geographical Origin:  Cockatoos are native to Australia, New Guinea and its neighboring islands, eastern Indonesia, the Moluccas, and the Philippines.  Depending on their genus and species, cockatoos live on timbered mountain slopes, in rain forests, or in open forests.  In some areas, cockatoos have become a plague to farmers because they are seed-eaters and will often destroy entire fields.

Special Characteristics:  The name “cockatoo” derives from a Malayan word meaning “pliers” or “vise” and referring to the bird’s powerful beak.  cockatoos nest in large, deep holes high up in hollow trees.  In most parrot species only the female incubates the eggs, but male and female cockatoos share this chore.  The Palm Cockatoo is not only the largest of the cockatoos but also has the longest beak, 4 inches, of all the parrots.  The cockatoo’s most striking feature is its erectile crest, which it raises when excited or frightened.  The beak of the cockatoo differs from that of other parrots in that the lower mandible is wider than the upper.

Suitability As A Pet:  Cockatoos are very popular but also very demanding pets.  They are gregarious birds, and if they are kept single they will readily develop attachments to humans.  But, if they do not get the company they need, they will be unhappy and pine away.  They are usually not exclusive with their favors and wil enjoy contact with a number of people.  They want to be petted often and a lot, enjoy gestures of affection, and like to keep busy.  Theya re very affectionate and playful and can put on amusing acrobatic shows.  Because they are agile climbers, they need a tree to tumble about on; and being powerful fliers they need sufficient space to fly in.  Some very tame cockatoos have been kept in complete freedom in their owners’ yards.  Their excellent sense of direction, their attachment ot people they know, and constant vocal contact with familiar people keep them from flying away.

Cockatoos can also be kept in a large outdoor aviary equipped with a room where they can get warm and be out of the weather.  If a cockatoo kept in an aviary will not have much contact with people, it cannot be kept alone.  Cages, aviaries, and nesting boxes have to be made of extremely durable materials because the cockatoo’s powerful beak can chew through the hardest objects.  It is possible to breed cockatoos, but breeding pairs become so pugnacious, that even familiar people are not safe from attack.

Talent for Speech:  The literature on parrots is in general agreement that cockatoos are not as gifted for speech as Amazons or Grey Parrots.  Of the cockatoos, the Little Corella is reputed to be the most able talker.  Some varieties of cockatoos can shriek quite loudly.  also, they will imitate all kinds of sounds and can learn to whistle. 

Life Expectancy:  Over fifty years.

Preferred Foods:  Sunflower seeds, wheat, oats, millet, canary seed, lettuce, dandelion greens, chckweed, carrots, fruit (especially cherries) willow twigs, and other twigs to gnaw on.

Red-headed Woodpecker

Red-headed Woodpeckers, Melanerpes erythrocephalus, are medium size woodpeckers and have suffered population decline where aggressive European Starlings have caused them to abandon their nesting cavities.

Their reduced po;ulations and patchy distribution makes them relatively uncommon, but their habit of feeding along roads makes them the woodpecker most frequently killed by vehicles.

You can attract them by providing dead snags or nesting boxes and offering sunflower seeds, raisins, or suet.

Distinguishing Features:

Note:  The contrast between their red heads, white underparts, and black backs makes it hard to miss these adults.

Size:  8.5-9.25 inches

Color:  Both sexes have bright scarlet-red head, neck, and throat areas; juveniles have ashy-brown heads.  They have snowy white underparts, rumps wing patches, and secondary wing feathers; jet-black backs, tails, and wings.

Voice:  Makes loud queer, queer, queer, or queark sounds.

Range:  Permanent residentsof the Southeast from the Atlantic coast west to central Indiana and northeastern Texas (excluding the Blue Ridge Mountains) and south to the Gulf Coast, excluding tropical Florida.  Summers north and west of this range. Winters in southern Louisiana west to central Texas.

Habitat:  Prefers open stands of trees with little undergrowth.  Both parents excavate the nesting cavity, in a dead tree, dead stub of a live tree, utility pole, or fence post.  Occasionally nest in manmade boxes (5×7x16 inches with a 2 inch hole cut 3 inches below the top) mounted 10 feet above the ground in a wooded area filled with sawdust, allowing the birds to “excavate” their cavity.

Eggs:  Lays 4-7 oval white eggs; 1-2 broods per breeding season.  Both parents incubate eggs 12-14 days.  Fledglings leave the nest 27-31 days after hatching.

Food:  Drills for wood-boring grubs and insects; forageson the ground for insects, and fallen seeds.  Like flycatchers, they also perch and wait for flying insects.   Feeds on fruit, berries, and large nuts in fall, and stores winter foods, especially acorns beechnuts and corn.  Will come to feeders for cracked corn, sunflower seeds, raisins, suet, and suet mixes.

Habits:  Frequents parklike stands of large trees in rural and urban areas, large scattered deciduous trees in open grasslands and agricultural areas, and dead trees in swampy or burned-over areas.  They catch insects in midair, flycatcher style.