This species is native to the Moluccas (Maluku Islands) in Indonesia. They live in the lowlands and form large flocks. Farmers sometimes consider them a nuisance. Moluccans separate from the flock when they form a mating pair during the breeding season. They mate for life and can get very depressed after losing a mate.

Sweet and affectionate are understated descriptions. This cockatoo loves to be loved and wants nothing more than someone (bird or person) to be with at all times. As a pet, the Moluccan tends to turn into a one-person bird. Moluccans are brilliant birds that thrive on challenges. They can learn to dance and do tricks and acts like an entertaining comedian when in a good mood.

Moluccans are not the best talking parrot. They can mimic some sounds, though many owners say that it's more like yelling than talking.

This species is easy to recognize by the bright pink feathers that adorn the base of its crest. It's barely noticeable when the feathers are flat, but when the bird is excited, afraid, or angry, the crest will raise and show off its true beauty. Among the cockatoo species, their crest is one of the fullest, only rivaled by the umbrella cockatoo.

Besides the pop of color on their heads, Moluccan cockatoos are primarily white with salmon-colored feathers on their chests and wings. They have a beautiful pale yellow to peach color underneath their wings. Their beaks and feet are black but often appear gray due to the natural powdery down that the bird sheds.

Moluccan cockatoos bond strongly with their owners. Do not get a Moluccan cockatoo unless you can be sure you will be home most of the time with it. If your lifestyle does not allow for this, consider getting two Moluccans. A pair will keep each other entertained. The trade-off is that owning two of these feisty birds is an even more significant commitment than one.

Moluccans will do best in the largest cage possible. If you can make the bird's home an aviary or a full room, your bird will be happier. The cage should be sturdy and able to withstand the cockatoo's destructive nature. Address its pent-up energy by providing plenty of toys and activity during its daily, supervised playtime.

In the wild, Moluccans eat seeds, fruits, nuts, and insects. Like all members of the cockatoo family, Moluccans can suffer health problems if they gain too much weight. Since Moluccans are not getting as much exercise as they would if they were in the wild, owners need to ensure these birds get a well-balanced diet and cut back on high-fat foods like seeds.

A formulated pellet diet should make up 75 percent of its food source. The other 25 percent should be bird-safe fruits and vegetables, such as bananas, apples, carrots, and kale. Thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables to protect your bird against pesticides and bacteria.

Moluccan cockatoos are an active bird. They need plenty of exercise to maintain their mental and physical well-being. Let your bird play and stretch its muscles. Give it between three and four hours outside the cage daily. It doesn't have to be in one long stretch.

Designate the bird's out-of-cage time in a safe, enclosed area where your bird won't hurt itself or escape from the house. You can also play to its foraging instinct and hide food as a game. The bird will enjoy the challenge.

20 inches

Up to 70 years

The galah is native to Australia, where it can be found in open grasslands and over much of the country. It has self-established in Tasmania. Galah cockatoos travel in large flocks, often in groups that also include sulfur-crested cockatoos. They will mate with other species of cockatoos. The name "galah" means "fool" or "clown" in the native Australian language Yuwaalaraay. This highly intelligent bird got the name for being a loud nuisance.

Affectionate and friendly, the galah cockatoo has a reputation for being a loving pet. Unlike umbrella cockatoos, these birds are not big on cuddling. But, they are accustomed to handling.

Wild galahs emit loud, high-pitched sounds while flying in flocks. They can make a resonating screech when frightened, excited, or calling out for attention. This clever bird can imitate people's voices and repetitive sounds like train whistles, car horns, or telephone ringtones. Some say males are more prolific talkers than females. Comparatively, the galah cockatoo is not particularly loud for a cockatoo, which is among the loudest of parrots.

Their bold colors and friendly personalities have made galah cockatoos increasingly popular as pets. As its descriptive name suggests, rose-breasted cockatoos have bright pink feathers on their chests, bellies, and the lower half of their faces. They have pinkish-white crests and gray backs, wings, and tail feathers, gray feet, and horn-colored beaks. As is true of all cockatoos, the galah has a head crest that fans out when the bird is frightened or excited.

Your bird will want to spend a considerable amount of time with you and will be a reasonably high-maintenance pet. If you are short on time for interaction, this bird might be happier housed with another galah. These parrots need sound sleep in a dark, quiet place that mimics the safety of the roosting areas that they prefer when living in the wild. Covering the bird's cage at night usually reassures them.

In the wild, galahs eat grasses, leaf buds, flowers, seeds, and on occasion, insects for extra protein. When kept as pets, feed galahs a balanced diet. High-quality formulated pellets have been developed to meet all your bird's nutritional needs. At least 50 percent of your bird's diet should be in pellet form. The other half of their diet should be fruits and vegetables. Start by feeding 1/4 cup of pellets and 1/4 cup of fresh salad daily. Incrementally increase as needed.

Great choices for fresh vegetables include leafy greens such as Swiss chard, kale, Chinese cabbage, and romaine; root vegetables; peppers; zucchini; green beans; and sprouts. They love most fruits and berries. Give walnuts, almonds, and pecans sparingly as training treats. Fresh water should be available at all times.

Galah cockatoos are active birds, and they need plenty of exercise to maintain their physical health. Pan on giving this bird at least three to four hours of active time outside of the cage each day.

Cockatoos have strong beaks and jaws, so it's essential to provide plenty of safe toys made of wood or leather that allows them to exercise their jaw muscles and satisfy the natural chewing instinct.

12 to 15 inches in length, weighing 10 to 14 ounces

Can live to 70 years in captivity; most commonly will live 40 or so years

Umbrella cockatoos are native to the tropics of Indonesia. These birds originally hail from the Maluku Islands in the central and northern parts of the archipelago. They are now commonly found throughout all Indonesia.

Umbrella cockatoos are gentle, docile, and sweet-tempered by nature, making them well-suited to be companion birds. In the wild, umbrella cockatoos mate for life. They form a very close bond with their mate, possibly more than other species of cockatoos. They will join small flocks of umbrella cockatoos and are rarely apart from their mate. If a mated pair is separated, it is not uncommon for each of the birds to become genuinely depressed.

Rarely aggressive, they will quickly form strong bonds with their caretakers. These affectionate birds love to cuddle with their person, bird, or even object of choice. Equally loving and devoted owners are a good match for these parrots. This species begs to be spoiled, so plan on at least one to two hours of training, attention, and enrichment per day.

Umbrellas are very social and intelligent. They are capable of learning and performing a wide variety of tricks. Easily trainable, they are often featured as the star of bird shows. Short, daily training sessions yield the best results. To prevent your bird from becoming bored, have an arsenal of safe bird toys at your disposal. This species is not known for its mimicry of human speech, but it does screech loudly to vocalize its displeasure or excitement.

While the occasional cockatoo can imitate human speech, in general, these birds are not good talkers or imitators of sound. They have a loud, grating screech or scream and may hiss when alarmed. In the wild, their loud vocalizations were used for communication and could carry over long distances. In captivity, they often use loud squawks to call for attention.

Umbrella cockatoos are primarily white with a pure white crest. When courting a mate, agitated, excited, scared, or even just frustrated, its crest will raise into an impressive umbrella-like fan. It can also be a peculiar way to express curiosity at something new and, quite often, is a warning that the bird wants to be left alone. It's also a good warning sign that the bird may bite if approached. The underside of their wing and tail feathers are a pale yellow color that looks beautiful when in flight.

Umbrella cockatoos are large birds that need a large cage and play area. Get an enclosure that is as large as possible, since these birds do not enjoy containment. This species may act out or become very unhappy in a tight space, which can lead to self-mutilation or illness. Umbrella cockatoos require uninterrupted sleep every night for 10 to 12 hours. Good sleep is essential for maintaining their health and wellbeing.

Like all large parrots, umbrella cockatoos are big eaters. In the wild, they spend most of the day looking for food. Seeds, nuts, coconuts, and grain in farmer's fields are standard favorites in their diet.

As a pet, about 80 percent of their diet should be a formulated pelleted diet. The rest of their food should consist of a wide variety of vegetables, including leafy greens and root vegetables. High-quality grains such as quinoa and other ancient grains, fresh sprouts, and fresh fruit are great dietary choices for this species. Fresh water should be available at all times.

On occasion, feed them healthy nuts such as almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, and walnuts. You can also offer healthy seeds like hemp, milk thistle, or flaxseed as treats.

Umbrella cockatoos are active birds. Like all parrots, they need to spend at least two hours out of their cage each day for play and exercise. Provide your bird several chewable bird toys to exercise the bird's powerful beak. Rotate the toys occasionally to prevent boredom. Toys are helpful for exercise, as well as stimulation and enrichment. You can teach your cockatoo to play games like catch on the floor with a whiffle ball. Structured playtime is essential for bonding and allowing the bird to stretch their muscles.

18 to 24 inches in length

70 or 80 years or more in captivity with proper care.