Cockatoos

The Mighty Triton Cockatoo

The Triton Cockatoo is a magnificent cockatoo species native to New Guinea. Typical to most cockatoo species, the Triton makes a great companion bird.

However it is best owned by an experienced bird lover or a bird owner with tremendous time, patience, and devotion.  Our training teach you how to never be bitten by your triton cockatoo again. The Triton Cockatoo is a subspecies of the Greater Sulphur Crested Cockatoo which is found in Australia. They grow to a sizeable 18 inches in length from tip to tail and are covered in white plumage. The telltale crest of this particular cockatoo is bright yellow and the underside of their wings can also be tinged in yellow.

Triton Cockatoo Care

The Triton Cockatoo requires a large cage that is equipped to not only give them room to climb and explore but also to house enough toys to keep your Triton occupied while you’re away. Triton Cockatoos are intelligent birds.

This means that when they’re left alone they must have toys and activities to occupy them or they’ll become bored. Boredom in a Triton, and most other bird species, leads to destruction and behavior problems. Minimum cage size is a two foot by two foot square and three feet high. This is a minimum and only acceptable if you’re going to be spending a lot of time with your cockatoo outside of their cage. If they’re going to be left alone for longer periods of time then a larger cage is recommended.

You may also want to consider a different bird if you’re unable to spend several hours a day with your Triton Cockatoo because they’re very social birds that demand personal interaction from their owners.

In addition to a good sized cage filled with appropriate toys, perches, and climbing opportunities, a Triton Cockatoo needs a well balanced diet. For a triton this means an organic pellet based diet supplemented with an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables every day. Fresh water is also a must.

Non-chlorinated water is best as birds are not designed to process chlorine or pesticides found in our human environment. This means organic fruits and vegetables are also optimal however if they’re not available or in your budget a thorough washing and peeling will take care of the majority of chemicals.  Some great information from the San Diego Zoo on the Triton Cockatoo's

Triton Cockatoo Behavior

• Triton Cockatoo Biting

• Triton Cockatoo Chewing

• Triton Cockatoo Screaming

Now it must be said that a Triton Cockatoo, while it is a spectacular and very dynamic bird, is not immune to behavior problems. Tritons are cockatoos and that means chewing, noise, and lots of drama if they don’t get the attention they need and deserve.

Triton Cockatoo Chewing can be handled by giving your cockatoo an abundance of durable and interesting toys. Noise however is another issue. Cockatoos are noisy birds plain and simple and the Triton is no different.

While accepting the regular morning and evening social chatter is part of your job as an owner you do not have to accept screaming. In fact, positive reinforcement trick training your Triton from the beginning will help avoid any screaming problems and should they creep up, training can eliminate screaming issues.

Other common problems that can surface in a Triton Cockatoo include biting and feather plucking. These are generally due to something missing from your bird’s environment or fear. Proper training and socialization can go a long way to prevent and eliminate any unwanted behavior including biting and feather plucking.

Proper care of your Triton Cockatoo is imperative and it is the least that this magnificent bird deserves. Tritons really are one of the unique species of birds available as a companion bird. Treat them well, give them the attention and care they deserve and you’ll have a friend for decades. For more information sign up for our free newsletter.