Moluccan Cockatoo
Basic Information:
Scientific Name: Cacatua moluccensis
Habitat: Moluccan cockatoos are indigenous to the Moluccan and Amboina Islands of Indonesia.
Diet: Moluccan cockatoos eat fruits, seeds, nuts, and insects.
Size: 1.5 to 1.7 feet tall / 1.7 to 1.8 foot wingspan
Weight: 1.5 to 2 pounds
Lifespan: 80 to 100 years
Distribution Map:
I.U.C.N. Conservation Status:
What does this mean?
Vulnerable – a species determined by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (I.U.C.N.) to possess a high risk of extinction as a result of rapid population declines of 30 to more than 50 percent over the previous 10 years (or three generations), a current population size of fewer than 1,000 individuals, or other factors.
Our Moluccan Cockatoo:
Polly (Male) – Estimated Birthdate 1950
Did You Know?!
- Moluccan cockatoos are also known as salmon-crested cockatoos.
- Moluccan cockatoos have a ridge of feathers on top of their head, also called a crest, that they use to communicate. They raise their feathers when they are excited, alert, agitated, or when trying to display their size.
- Moluccan cockatoos are known for being crop pests of coconut plantations. They go after young coconuts, chewing through the tough outer layer to get to the pulp and milk.
- Like other parrots, Moluccan cockatoos have zygodactyl feet. This means that they have two toes pointing forward and two pointing back.
- Moluccan cockatoos tend to travel in small groups, singly, or as pairs, rather than larger flocks.
- The two biggest threats to the Moluccan cockatoo are deforestation and trapping for the pet trade.