Cockatoo

Lore & Background

The word cockatoo dates from the 17th century, derived from Dutch kaketoe, from Malay kakatua. The family has a mainly Australasian distribution, ranging from the Philippines and the eastern Indonesian islands of Wallacea to New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Australia. The phylogenetic position of the cockatiel remains unresolved, except that it is one of the earliest offshoots of the cockatoo lineage. The remaining species are in two main clades: the five large black-coloured cockatoos of the genus Calyptorhynchus, and the second larger branch formed by the genus Cacatua, comprising 12 species of white-plumaged cockatoos and three monotypic genera.

Reader's Guide

Cockatoos are significant as a distinct family within the parrot order, representing an early offshoot from the original parrot ancestors after the New Zealand parrots of the family Strigopidae. Their fossil record is limited, with only one truly ancient cockatoo fossil known: a species of Cacatua found in Early Miocene deposits of Riversleigh, Australia. Cockatoos are popular birds in aviculture, though their needs are difficult to meet; the cockatiel is the easiest to maintain and most frequently kept in captivity. Some species have been adversely affected by habitat loss, particularly from a shortage of suitable nesting hollows after large, mature trees are cleared, while others have adapted well to human changes and are considered agricultural pests. Illegal trade in wild-caught birds contributes to the decline of some species in the wild.

Did You Know?

• Cockatoos are monogamous and nest in tree hollows.
• The word cockatoo dates from the 17th century and is derived from Dutch kaketoe, from Malay kakatua.
• The cockatiel is the smallest cockatoo species, being 32 cm long and 80–100 g in weight.
• In Australian slang, a person who keeps watch while others undertake clandestine activities may be referred to as a 'cockatoo'.