The Beautfiul Salmon Crested Cockatoo

Ever wonder where the Salmon Crested Cockatoo got its magnificent tuft of feathers atop its head?  The tuft of feathers is called a crest.

The Salmon Crested Cockatoo has a recumbent crest which is a crest where the feathers stand straight up rather than being curved. Nature designed the Cockatoo crest to scare off predators.  They also raise it when they’re excited so it’s a method of communication.  Salmon Crested Cockatoos, are native to south Moluccas in eastern Indonesia.

It is the largest of the white cockatoos and unlike many species; the female is generally larger than the males.  It has white-pink feathers with a definite peachy tint, a slight yellow on the underwing and underside of the tail feathers

The Salmon Crested Cockatoo is on the endangered species list.  Sad but true.  It is illegal to import them into the United States.  They are however fairly easy to breed in captivity and if you desire a Salmon Crested Cockatoo as a companion bird, they’re pretty easy to come by and through training they can make great pet parrots. To stop your Salmon Crested Cockatoo from biting and screaming for good sign up for our free newsletter!

It is important before you rush out to buy this beautiful bird; you understand that Salmon Crested Cockatoos are high maintenance birds.  Typical of other cockatoos, Salmon Crests are known for their cuddliness and affectionate personality.  However, what many people don’t know is that if they’re not properly socialized, trained, and cared for, this particular breed of bird can make your life quite difficult.  They’re extremely demanding.

Proper socialization and training is required for a happy home environment.   Owners are advised to learn to read their Cockatoo's body language, care for them, and train them, to prevent heaps of unpleasant behaviors down the road.  And by down the road know that they can live to be about 40 years old.  They also grow to about 22 inches long - not a small bird by any means.   

Typical of the breed, they can also be extremely loud, certainly not meant to be kept by owners in an apartment or a home with shared walls.  They’re destructive and their powerful beaks will hurt when they bite.

As they approach adolescence they may begin to exhibit aggressive behavior more frequently and only an attentive and compassionate owner will be able to properly care for them.  It should also be noted that they shed a white dander that people can be allergic to.  Regular baths will keep the dust to a minimum and help with allergies. 

Enough about the cons of owning a Salmon Crested Cockatoo.  There are many pros too! Salmon Crested Cockatoos are loyal and loving birds.  They’re highly intelligent, and extremely intuitive. 

They know when their owner needs a snuggle and they know when to leave you alone – though it doesn’t mean they will.  Owning a Salmon Crest can be a very rewarding experience, for the right owner.  The most fun might be hanging out at night watching television and training them to perform fun tricks.  They can really be a showstopper.

Even though they demand a tremendous amount of time and attention, they’re very enjoyable companion birds.  They do have a reputation of exhibiting a few problem behaviors including; feather plucking, screaming, destruction and aggression including biting.  Learning your Salmon Crested behavior and physical signs and continuous training will go a far way toward eliminating and preventing bad behaviors. 

Salmon Crested Cockatoos will also respond quite quickly to their environment.  If they’re getting enough nutrition, sleep, and time outside of their cage to interact with their one true love – their owner, then they’ll respond by showering you with all the love and attention you can handle. For more information sign up for our free newsletter!