Fun Blue-eyed Cockatoo Facts For Kids

Are you fond of cockatoos and parrots? If yes, then you will enjoy reading about the bird that we have here today.

It's known as one of the friendliest cockatoos around us, and it also has a playful nature. We are talking about the blue-eyed cockatoo that is endemic to New Britain Island, on the eastern side of New Guinea. Interestingly, this place was formerly known as New Ireland.

Moving ahead, we would like you to focus on this beautiful medium-sized white bird known for its long lifespan of 60 years. It has a yellow and white crest on its neck which can become fuller when the cockatoo feels excited.

It also has a beautiful black beak along with a striking blue ring around the eyes. These birds mainly have diet fruits and berries while living in the wild, and this diet may be the secret of the long lifespan.

The sad thing about this parrot is its vulnerable status. This has mainly happened due to illegal entrapment for exotic pet trades. As the population dwindles, we can only hope that this species will thrive again in its native forest homes.

Want to read more about the cockatoo? Keep reading to learn interesting blue-eyed cockatoo facts! For more relatable content, check out hummingbird facts and blue jay facts.

Blue-Eyed Cockatoo Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a blue-eyed cockatoo?

The blue-eyed cockatoo (Cacatua ophthalmica) is a white cockatoo species that belongs to the genus Cacatua.

What class of animal does a blue-eyed cockatoo belong to?

The blue-eyed cockatoos belong to the class Aves and to the order Psittaciformes. The beautiful glossy black cockatoo also belongs to this order.

How many blue-eyed cockatoos are there in the world?

Even though we are yet to get any conclusive research about these rare birds, it is believed that fewer than 10,000 individuals are left in their natural habitat. Poaching of the cockatoos from the wild is a massive part of the problem as its demand as a pet rises.

Where does a blue-eyed cockatoo live?

The blue-eyed cockatoo (Cacatua ophthalmica) is endemic to the New Britain island present on the eastern side of New Guinea. This region which is now known as New Britain was formerly known as New Ireland.

Even though the bird species have been discovered in the area, not much information is still available. Because of the emerging exotic pet trade, many blue-eyed cockatoos have also made their way into human households.

What is a blue-eyed cockatoo's habitat?

In the wild, the blue-eyed cockatoos are mainly found in lowland tropical forests and areas of small-scale mixed agro-forests. Moreover, these birds also prefer to dwell in tall trees.

When kept as a pet, this blue-eyed species should be either kept in the open or a large enough cage. These parrots need an ample amount of space to remain healthy. Apart from providing it with an area to perch, the people who have them should give it toys for engagement.

Who does blue-eyed cockatoo live with?

We don't have much information about the living behavior of this bird species. However, it has been suggested that in the wild, groups of these cockatoos live together and tend to fly around in groups. Possible migratory movements might also be a part of this bird's behavior, but it isn't confirmed.

How long does a blue-eyed cockatoo live?

One of the most striking things about these cockatoos is their long lifespan. If proper diet and health are maintained, this species can live an average life of 40-60 years.

How do they reproduce?

Not much data about the breeding of this species is available. However, it is known that these cockatoos prefer to build a nest in the hollows of trees.

These birds usually lay two eggs in each breeding season. When the breeding was observed in an aviary, both males and females took time incubating the eggs for 28–30 days.

The young parrots stay in the nest for 12–13 weeks, and the parents give the chicks foods like fruits and seeds. Also, the young look similar to the parents but have gray eye-rings instead of striking blue.

What is their conservation status?

According to the latest data of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the blue-eyed cockatoo has been placed under Vulnerable status in the Red List. This is because illegal capture has increased over the years due to the demand for exotic pets.

Moreover, in the pet trade, this species does have a high price because of its rarity. As it is hard to spot these endangered birds in the wild, even some conservation techniques have failed to put a check on these activities.

Blue-Eyed Cockatoo Fun Facts

What does a blue-eyed cockatoo look like?

When it comes to the blue-eyed cockatoo, the most striking thing of the bird has to be the blue eyes. Rather than having blue irises, the area covering the pupil is blue.

As juveniles, this area is often gray. The males have dark brown pupils, while females tend to have more reddish eyes. Other than that, this is a medium-size cockatoo that is covered in beautiful white feathers.

Moreover, the yellow feathers on its crest give the parrot a majestic look. When excited, the birds can raise the crest to display the beautiful yellow and white features. These white and yellow feathers can also be seen on the underside of the wings visible in flight. The beak is primarily black with a splash of white or gray.

How cute are they?

If you are a lover of cockatoos, then you will surely love this blue-eyed bird as it's extremely adorable and cheerful.

How do they communicate?

Not much is know about the different communication forms of this parrot. However, owners have said that the blue-eyed cockatoo loves to communicate by making different sounds.

It can also mimic human speech, and the bird tends to be loud. This parrot also loves to interact with its toys and enjoys attention.

When excited, it will also raise its beautiful yellow and white crest. However, if you see a tendency of self-mutilation, make sure to immediately contact a vet as the bird usually tries to tell you that it's agitated by doing plucking its feathers vigorously.

How big is a blue-eyed cockatoo?

The average body length of this parrot species is around 19.7 in (50 cm). Compared to it, the pink cockatoo reaches 14-16 in (35.6-40.6 cm), making it a tad smaller.

How fast can a blue-eyed cockatoo fly?

We aren't quite sure about the exact flight speed of the blue-eyed cockatoo, but the average speed of flying for cockatoos is around 43 mph (69.2 kph).

How much does a blue-eyed cockatoo weigh?

The average weight of the blue-eyed cockatoo is around 17.6-20 oz (500-570g). Even though males and females are almost equal, males tend to be slightly heavier.

What are the male and female names of the species?

There are no specific names for the male and female of this bird species.

What would you call a baby blue-eyed cockatoo?

A baby blue-eyed cockatoo is called a chick.

What do they eat?

One of the foremost things to keep in mind is the foods that your pets can eat. Wholesome and nutritious food is necessary for them to remain healthy.

Also, this bird tends to live for a long time, so its health is vital, especially as it starts to age. We have yet to receive extensive information about its life in the wild, but it's assumed that it may feed on arboreal fruits, nuts, and seeds in the natural habitat.

When kept as pets, owners can consult vets to give the blue-eyed cockatoo a proper diet for parrots.

Specialized foods, seeds, and pellets are also available on the market. At times, the cockatoo may also like to munch on live worms.

Are they dangerous?

Not at all! The blue-eyed cockatoo is one of the most playful cockatoos out there, and as a pet, it loves to interact with its owners.

That being said, we would like to point out that an agitated cockatoo may end up scratching or biting a person. So if you notice any signs of anxiety, aggressiveness, or self-mutilation in a pet, make sure to take it to a vet.

Would they make a good pet?

Yes, the blue-eyed cockatoo can make an excellent pet. However, we would like it if you can source the pet from an ethical breeder. This cockatoo needs attention, and without proper care, it can soon develop separation anxiety. However, if you give it enough love, affection, and good food, the blue-eyed cockatoo will soon become a best friend.

As a rare species, the blue-eyed cockatoo does cost you a bit more. Getting one can cost you $10,000 or more, so make sure to find it from ethical sellers.

This is a noisy bird, and as a pet, would love to mimic you. So, people who don't enjoy noisy pets may not like this cockatoo. Other than that, taking care of this cockatoo is quite easy, and owners can either feed it special cockatoo food or fruits and berries.

Did you know...

Blue-eyed cockatoos make nests in trees at the height of around 135 ft (41.1 m).

What is the friendliest cockatoo?

The blue-eyed cockatoo is said to be one of the friendliest cockatoos. Because of its calm and playful behavior, more people have been wanted to keep it as a pet.

What is the rarest cockatoo?

The rarest cockatoo is the yellow-crested Abbott's cockatoo, or Abbotti cockatoo, that was recently rediscovered in the Masalembu Archipelago of Indonesia.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these mealy parrot facts and kea parrot facts for kids.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable flying cockatoo coloring pages.