The derivation has also been used for the family and generic names Cacatuidae and Cacatua, respectively. Seventeenth-century variants include cacato, cockatoon and crockadore, and cokato, cocatore and cocatoo were used in the eighteenth century. The word cockatoo dates from the 17th century and is derived from Dutch kaketoe, which is from Indonesian/ Malay kakatua. Illegal trade in wild-caught birds contributes to the decline of some cockatoo species in the wild. White cockatoos are more commonly found in captivity than black cockatoos. The cockatiel is the easiest cockatoo species to maintain and is by far the most frequently kept in captivity. Some cockatoo species have been adversely affected by habitat loss, particularly from a shortage of suitable nesting hollows after large mature trees are cleared conversely, some species have adapted well to human changes and are considered agricultural pests.Ĭockatoos are popular birds in aviculture, but their needs are difficult to meet. Cockatoos are monogamous and nest in tree hollows. They often feed in large flocks, particularly when ground-feeding. The second and larger branch is formed by the genus Cacatua, comprising 11 species of white-plumaged cockatoos and four monotypic genera that branched off earlier namely the pink and white pink cockatoo, the pink and grey galah, the mainly grey gang-gang cockatoo and the large black-plumaged palm cockatoo.Ĭockatoos prefer to eat seeds, tubers, corms, fruit, flowers and insects. The five large black-coloured cockatoos of the genus Calyptorhynchus form one branch. The remaining species are in two main clades.
The phylogenetic position of the cockatiel remains unresolved, except that it is one of the earliest offshoots of the cockatoo lineage.
On average they are larger than other parrots however, the cockatiel, the smallest cockatoo species, is a small bird. Their plumage is generally less colourful than that of other parrots, being mainly white, grey or black and often with coloured features in the crest, cheeks or tail. 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.Ĭockatoos are recognisable by the prominent crests and curved bills. Along with the Psittacoidea ( true parrots) and the Strigopoidea (large New Zealand parrots), they make up the order Psittaciformes. An opportunity to investigate real-life issues, reflect and problem solve and develop action-oriented responses to sustainability challenges and help threatened species like the Gang-gangįind out more about the Birds in Schools project to get involved.A cockatoo is any of the 21 species of parrots belonging to the family Cacatuidae, the only family in the superfamily Cacatuoidea.Students can become empowered as citizen scientists, actively participating in the scientific process.High-quality teacher training - with a curriculum and lesson plans provided - equips teachers with the skills they’ll need to deliver sustainability education.This project has a host of benefits for birds, teachers and students alike. Participating schools will learn about native birds (including the Gang-gang), and look at ways they can help birds by planting and taking action. Gang-gang Cockatoos are an important part of our Birds in Schools project. Getting the word out about Gang-gangs in schools You can join us by taking part in our free, online learning course and developing your own action plan for Gang-gangs. We work with garden owners and rural property owners, teaching them how to make their green spaces Gang-gang friendly by doing things like planting trees to create suitable habitat, as well as enhancing existing habitat. The Gang-gang Cockatoo is a charismatic species, and this BirdLife Australia recovery project is helping passionate Australians gain the skills and information they need to make a difference.