Fun Pink Cockatoo Facts For Kids

Major Mitchell's cockatoos, or pink cockatoos, (Cacatua leadbeateri) belong to the parrot species and family of Cacaduidae. These are iconic and intelligent birds native to various parts of Australia,  usually thriving in the inland forests particularly areas that are surrounded by Acacia, Eucalyptus, and Cypress pine trees.

These birds look majestic because of their pink and white feathers and the beautiful crest which looks like a large yellow and red-colored headdress. Apart from this, their underwings also show a distinct bright shade of pink and orange which looks magnificent as they spread the wings during their flight.

These species have a diet that primarily includes seeds of melons and various trees, nuts, fruits. Due to their strong beaks, they can easily crack thick nuts and branches to prey on insect larvae.

These species have an average lifespan of 40 years in the wild but in captivity, they can live up to 70 years. These birds are quite friendly pets and become really protective of their owners.

Read on to know more interesting pink cockatoo facts.

If you like this article, you can read about the southern cassowary and the cockatoo.

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What type of animal is a Pink cockatoo?

Major Mitchell's cockatoo, or pink cockatoo, is a type of bird belonging to the genus Cacatua who lives in various parts of Australia.

What class of animal does a pink cockatoo belong to?

Major Mitchell's cockatoo belongs to the class Aves and phylum Chordata.

How many pink cockatoos are there in the world?

The world population of Major Mitchell's cockatoo or pink cockatoos has not been specified yet but being native to Australia, these cockatoos are very common in their own region. It is estimated that between the two subspecies under Cacatua leadbeateri, the population of C. l. leadbeateri is about 50000 birds, and the population of C. l. Mollis is more than that. Apart from this, there are around 21 different species of cockatoos in the Cacaduidae family.

Where does a Pink cockatoo live?

Pink cockatoos live in the arid and semi-arid regions in various parts of Australia. It thrives in the parts of southern Queensland and northwestern areas of Victoria, covering most of the parts of South Australia. This species is also found on Australia's western coast.

What is a Pink cockatoo's habitat?

Pink cockatoos prefer living in the arid and semi-arid forests of Australia with a large number of Eucalyptus and Acacia trees. Their natural habitat includes various grasslands, tropical and sub-tropical regions with a few trees, and nearby streams. They will fly to some new place where there is enough food and water if the previous area does not have enough supplies. Cacatua leadbeateri and Cacatua Mollis are two subspecies that reside in the east and west part of Australia.

Who do pink cockatoos live with?

Pink cockatoos (Cacatua leadbeateri) are highly social Australian birds who enjoy hanging out with their fellow species as well as other cockatoos, like galahs. They can stay in flocks consisting of at least 10 birds, the flocks can extend up to 50. The young of these cockatoos tend to stay with their parents for a period of time after which they become independent.

How long does a Pink cockatoo live?

Pink cockatoos have a long lifespan with most of them living for at least 40 years in the wild. In captivity, with the help of proper care, these cockatoos can live up to 70-75 years too.

How do they reproduce?

These majestic cockatoos are monogamous in nature and they tend to mate for life. The way the males try to attract their partners during the breeding season looks spectacular. They seem to dance along the branches and bounce their heads back and forth by showing off their lifted chest and wings. The female bows if she accepts his advances. The breeding season is usually from August to December. After mating, the pairs build their nest on a branch of a tree at least 10-65.6 ft (3-20 m) above the ground with the help of small wood pieces and pebbles. These birds are usually quite protective about their nest and breed in the same nest every year. The females lay between two and five eggs in the nest and incubate them for at least 23 days, which may extend up to 30 days sometimes. The baby cockatoos are ready to fly six to eight weeks after they hatch from the eggs, and for eight more weeks, these birds are taken care of by their parents, especially the father. These birds can mate after three or four years.

What is their conservation status?

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, the conservation status of this species of bird has been listed as Least Concern. These cockatoos are found in plenty in the arid and semi-arid forests of Australia but their population is declining because of illegal trade practices and habitat destruction.

What do pink cockatoos look like?

The name pink cockatoo is absolutely justified because this gorgeous bird has a soft salmon pink and white plumage. They are relatively small in comparison to other cockatoo species but is regarded as the most beautiful one. They have white wings and tails but their breast, head, and wings range from soft pink to robust pink color. The underside of the wings and tip of the tails display a bright shade of orange and pink feathers which look magnificent when they are flying. The most remarkable feature of this bird is the beautiful crest that looks like a large yellow and red-colored headdress. They have an off-white colored beak which is very strong.

How cute are they?

These Australian pink cockatoos are very cute because of their fuzzy and soft salmon pink plumage. Also, they are quite friendly and social birds that can quickly become fond of their owner. They also accept cuddles too!

How do they communicate?

Major Mitchell's cockatoo, also known as Leadbeater's cockatoo, usually communicates through its loud screeching calls that can be heard across long distances. When they are kept as pets, with proper training these intelligent species can communicate through whistles and occasionally words too. They can also communicate through body language where an inflated crest feather means they are excited or irritated.

How big is a pink cockatoo?

Major Mitchell's cockatoos are relatively small in comparison to other cockatoos. They are 14-16 in (35-40 cm) long, which is almost twice the size of a regular house sparrow.

How fast can a pink cockatoo fly?

The exact flying speed of these cockatoos is not known, but usually, they are known to fly in a slow, lethargic way. They fly a little distance and then take a rest for a while before flying again. Cacatua leadbeateri flies as close to the ground as possible and displays its remarkable colors during its flight.

How much does a pink cockatoo weigh?

These Australian parrots weigh around 10.6-15.9 oz (300-450 g).

What are their male and female names of the species?

The males are called cocks and the females are called hens.

What would you call a baby pink cockatoo?

A baby cockatoo is called a chick, just like any other bird species. They look similar to the female pink cockatoos until they are four years of age.

What do they eat?

These species have a diet that primarily includes the seeds of melons as well as nuts and fruits. Due to their strong beaks, they can easily crack thick nuts and branches of Eucalyptus and Acacia trees to prey on seeds and insect larvae. In captivity, their diet includes fresh fruits like oranges, bananas, and apples. Sometimes, they are given cooked rice and chicken.

Would they make a good pet?

This Australian bird is a very friendly, energetic pet and becomes quite attached to its owners. These cockatoos even get jealous when their owners are close to some other family member. If the owner has children in their family, it is advisable not to bring this bird home as pets because it might become jealous and try to bite them. They are well protected by their native law but if you get permission to keep one as a pet, you need to give it a lot of attention and love for its emotional health. If it is deprived of care and socialization with the owner, it might become hostile and aggressive. They will play hide and seek, dance, and sometimes even learn to speak and whistle with proper training. These birds are usually quite loud with screeching calls that might disturb the neighbors.

They require a spacious cage of at least 5 ft long. Pink Cockatoos are quite high maintenance pets who need regular showers and walk outside the cage for at least three or four hours every day. Like all other parrots, they need to exercise in order to remain healthy. These birds have a natural instinct of chewing and if you don't provide chew toys, they can chew the cage welds when bored.

Did you know...

A pink cockatoo, named Cookie, lived for an incredible 83 years, almost a lifespan of a human being! This bird lived in Brookfield Zoo in the United States and was one of the oldest parrots on the planet. Another interesting fact is during its flight, this species continuously gives out a shriek that sounds like 'creek-ery-cree.' They also make this sound when they are threatened.

What is a pink cockatoo called?

The pink cockatoo, native to Australia, is also known as Major Mitchell's cockatoo and Leadbeater's cockatoo. It is named after Sir Thomas Mitchell, honoring him. Major Mitchell praised the bird's beauty. In the words of Major Mitchell, 'the bird enlivens the Australian forest with its beautiful hue of colors'. Pink cockatoos and rose-breasted cockatoos, or galahs, look very similar because of their appearance but the latter is pink and grey in color while the former is pink and white. The genus of a galah is Eolophus and the genus of Major Mitchell's cockatoo is Lophochroa.

How do you tell the sex of a pink cockatoo?

Both the male and female pink cockatoos look very similar with the same pink and white plumage, but there are a few ways to tell them apart. The females have light reddish-brown eyes while the males have dark brown eyes. The females have more yellow marks on their crest and are a bit smaller in size in comparison to the male pink cockatoos.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds including the palm cockatoo and the eastern wood pewee.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one of our Pink cockatoo coloring pages.

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