Who doesn’t know about cockatoos for their expressive crests and engaging personalities? They are one of the most charismatic and visually stunning birds in the world. These wonderful birds mostly originate from Australia, the Philippines, Indonesia, and surrounding regions. Cockatoos have captured my heart with many of their traits. Here I will share the 8 most popular and beautiful cockatoo species in the world. All of them are my personal choice and opinion.

What Makes Cockatoos Unique?

I believe the only thing that makes them unique from other birds is their striking plumage and distinctive crest. They can raise and lower their crest at will. This crest especially helps people identify different species of cockatoos. Not only that, they are also popular for their strong beak, intelligence, and ability to learn human speech. They can perform lots of tricks and are highly trainable.

8 Most Popular and Beautiful Cockatoo Species in The World 

1. Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo

Mostly known as a pink cockatoo among bird enthusiasts. This is one of my favorite species in the world of cockatoos. They have a striking combination of pink and white feathers with a brilliant red and yellow crest. Their subtle salmon hue wings make them one of the most visually appealing cockatoos.

Major Mitchell’s Cockatoos are very popular pets and are known for being playful and affectionate. They have a quiet nature and can easily bond with you. To prevent boredom and behavior issues, you should provide a lot of attention and stimulation. 

Size	14-16 inches.
Weight	350-450 grams.
Color	White with pink on the face and chest, and a brilliant red and yellow crest.
Origin	Australia
Life Span	50-60 years.
Diets	Seeds, nuts, fruits, berries, roots, and occasionally insects.
Personality Traits	Social, intelligent, affectionate, and can be quite vocal.
Fun Fact	Named after Major Sir Thomas Mitchell, an explorer and surveyor of Southeast Australia in the 1800s.

2. Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo

Another popular cockatoo can be easily recognizable by its bright white feathers and striking yellow crest. They have wonderful eyes and dark black beaks. They are highly intelligent and can learn to mimic sounds. They are also known for their loud calls and social behavior. They can perform lots of tricks and easy going with other pets. In the wild, they thrive in a variety of habitats, including forests, woodlands, and urban areas where they often come into contact with humans. Sulphur-crested cockatoos are also known for living for several decades in captivity.

Size	17-22 inches.
Weight	800-1000 grams.
Color	Mainly white with a distinctive yellow crest.
Origin	Australia, New Guinea, and surrounding islands.
Life Span	40-70 years.
Diets	Seeds, nuts, fruits, berries, roots, and occasionally insects.
Personality Traits	Social, intelligent, playful, and can be quite vocal and mischievous.
Fun Fact	They are also known for their love of dancing and can often be seen bopping along to music, showing off their rhythmic skills!

3. Galah Cockatoo

Galah cockatoo achieved the 3rd position on my list. Galah cockatoos are sociable and affectionate, and they are also known as Rose-Breasted cockatoos. They form a powerful bond with their owners. Their chest and face are vivid pink, while their back and wings are soft grey. This beautiful coloration and their gentle nature make them a popular choice among bird lovers. They are able to mimic a few words and have a playful nature. Sometimes they can be quite entertaining with their antics. However, if you want them as a pet, they require a lot of attention for their mental stimulation and social interaction.

Size	14-15 inches.
Weight	270-350 grams.
Color	Pink face and chest with gray back, wings, and tail.
Origin	Australia.
Life Span	40-70 years.
Diets	Seeds, nuts, fruits, berries, roots, and green vegetation.
Personality Traits	Social, affectionate, intelligent, and playful.
Fun Fact	One of the most fascinating aspects of their behavior is their tendency to form lifelong monogamous bonds.

4. Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo

Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos are not commonly kept as pets. This is why they are not so popular among bird enthusiasts, But their beauty makes me keep them 4th position on my list. They are known for their distinctive appearance and haunting calls. These wonderful cockatoos are predominantly black with yellow patches on their tail and cheeks. They have very powerful beaks. They prefer to live in areas with abundant trees and food sources. They are often seen in pairs or small flocks. Their calls are distinctive and carry over long distances, often described as wailing or crying sounds.

Those who do keep them as pets, report that they are affectionate and intelligent. But, they are very loud and their specific needs mean they are best suited for experienced bird owners and not for beginners. 

Size	22-26 inches.
Weight	750-900 grams.
Color	Mostly black with yellow cheek patches and a yellow panel on the tail.
Origin	Australia.
Life Span	50-70 years.
Diets	Seeds, nuts, fruits, insects, and wood-boring larvae.
Personality Traits	Social, intelligent, curious, and often quieter than other cockatoos.
Fun Fact	Their unique diet wood-boring larvae, which they extract from tree bark using their powerful beaks.

5. Umbrella Cockatoo

I really don’t have to say a lot about Umbrella Cockatoos because of their popularity. They are named for their large umbrella-like crest that rises when excited or alarmed. They are also known as white cockatoos. They are highly social birds and form a strong bond with their owner. They do have very demanding personality in terms of attention. They are very playful and able to mimic human speech. Their curious nature and beautiful striking crest earn every bird lover’s heart.

Size	17-20 inches.
Weight	400-800 grams.
Color	Primarily white with a large, expressive white crest.
Origin	Indonesia.
Life Span	40-60 years.
Diets	Seeds, nuts, fruits, berries, roots, and occasionally insects.
Personality Traits	Affectionate, intelligent, social, and very playful; known for their strong bonding with humans
Fun Fact	Umbrella Cockatoos are named for their unique crest, which resembles an umbrella when fully raised.

6. Palm Cockatoo

If you’re looking for any unique-looking cockatoos, I would recommend going for Palm Cockatoo. They are the largest cockatoo among their species. They are generally black but have striking red facial patches. Do you know what makes them a favorite among bird enthusiasts? Their impressive beak and crest.

Palm Cockatoos are known for their intelligence and complex vocalizations. They are not as commonly kept as pets due to their specialized care needs, but they are highly valued in aviculture. Their unique appearance and behaviors make them a fascinating species.

Size	22-24 inches.
Weight	900-1200 grams.
Color	Predominantly black with a striking red patch on the cheek.
Origin	Australia, New Guinea.
Life Span	50-80 years.
Diets	Seeds, nuts, fruits, berries, and occasionally insects.
Personality Traits	Intelligent, independent, and can be quite shy.
Fun Fact	Palm Cockatoos are known for their unique behavior of using tools. They are one of the few bird species that use sticks or seed pods to drum on tree trunks, creating a loud noise.

7. Moluccan Cockatoo

Moluccan Cockatoos are native to the Seram archipelago in Indonesia and are known as Salmon-Crested Cockatoos. They are renowned for their stunning peach-colored feathers and large, bright crest. They are highly social and affectionate and require a lot of attention which can lead to them being very attached to their owners. They have a very playful and curious nature which makes them engaging pets. Lastly, I want to say, that their beauty and affectionate nature have made them popular among bird lovers.

Size	18-20 inches.
Weight	850-1100 grams.
Color	Predominantly white or pale pink with a peachy-pink crest.
Origin	Indonesia.
Life Span	60-80 years.
Diets	Seeds, nuts, fruits, berries, and vegetation.
Personality Traits	Extremely social, affectionate, intelligent, and can be very vocal.
Fun Fact	They are one of the most emotionally expressive cockatoo species.

8. Citron-Crested Cockatoo

Citron-Crested Cockatoo is distinguished by its bright orange crest. Their white plumage contrasts beautifully with their vibrant crest, making them a striking species. They are quiet affectionate and less noisy than other cockatoo species. They are very gentle and have a friendly nature. They are also able to learn to mimic sounds and can perform a lot of tricks. They are considered endangered due to habitat loss and the pet trade, making conservation efforts crucial. Although they require lots of care and attention, their engaging personality makes them very popular pets.

Size	13-14 inches.
Weight	350-400 grams.
Color	Primarily white with a distinctive orange (citron) crest and orange cheek patches.
Origin	Sumba Island in Indonesia.
Life Span	50-60 years.
Diets	Seeds, nuts, fruits, berries, and vegetation.
Personality Traits	Social, intelligent, playful, and can be quieter than other cockatoos.
Fun Fact	Their crest, when raised, is a brilliant display of bright orange feathers.

Cockatoos as Pets

Owning a cockatoo comes with its challenges and can be a rewarding experience. If you are looking for highly intelligent and social birds as a pet, I suggest cockatoos as they are one of the best choices. The good thing about cockatoos is that they can form a strong bond with their owners. But remember, they can also be very loud, destructive, and demanding based on the species. They need lots of attention and care to thrive in a domestic environment. Also, they can be very expensive to keep as a pet bird (especially Palm Cockatoo).

The first thing you need is spacious cages to allow them to move and play around. I also recommend getting them out of the cage every day for at least 3-4 hours (to avoid feather plucking). You also need to provide a variety of toys and foraging activities to keep them mentally stimulated. They need a highly rich balanced diet including pellets, fruits, seeds, and vegetables. Some supplements may be necessary, and make sure you get connected with an avian vet to ensure your bird receives its specific needs.

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