About
The Salmon-Crested Cockatoo is a large white cockatoo named for the soft salmon-pink blush across its crest and undertail feathers.
Parrots
Salmon-Crested Cockatoo
Cacatua moluccensis
A large white cockatoo with a distinctive salmon-pink crest.
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Psittaciformes
- Family
- Cacatuidae
At a Glance
Quick Facts
- Life Span
- 40 - 60 years
- Size
- About 46 - 52 cm long - one of the largest cockatoo species
- Diet
- Omnivore - seeds, nuts, fruit, and insects
- Habitat
- Lowland tropical forest
- Native Range
- Seram and nearby islands in Indonesia
- Trivia
- Its pink crest feathers rise when the bird is excited or alarmed.
Crowned in Pink
The Salmon-Crested Cockatoo is one of the largest cockatoo species, covered mostly in soft white feathers tinged with a pale salmon-pink blush, most visible on the crest and under the wings. When the bird is excited, curious, or alarmed, it raises its crest feathers into a striking fan shape.
Diet and Habitat
In its native island forests, this cockatoo forages for seeds, nuts, fruit, and the occasional insect, using its strong beak to crack open tough shells. It typically feeds in the forest canopy and is often heard well before it is seen, thanks to its loud, far-carrying call.
Social and Family Life
Salmon-Crested Cockatoos form strong, long-lasting pair bonds and are known for their long lifespan, often living for several decades. Pairs and family groups stay in close contact through calls and mutual preening, a behavior that helps reinforce their social bonds.
Mini Zoo
