A large, clever, extremely loud cockatoo with a documented lifespan that can exceed most owners' plans for it.
Quick facts
| Scientific name | Cacatua galerita |
| Origin | Northern and eastern Australia, New Guinea and surrounding islands |
| Length | 44–55 cm (17–22 in) |
| Weight | 800–900 g (1.8–2 lb) |
| Lifespan | 40–70 years |
| Noise level | Extreme |
| Experience | Expert |
| Conservation | Least Concern |
Temperament
Intelligent, mischievous and famously good at defeating cage latches. Wild flocks in Australian cities have demonstrated socially transmitted problem-solving, including opening household bins — a useful reminder of what a bored individual is capable of indoors.
Care
Enrichment is not optional for this species; it is the core of the husbandry. Expect destructive chewing as normal behaviour and budget for a continuous supply of replaceable wood and foraging toys. The same head-and-neck-only petting rule that applies to Umbrellas applies here.
Notes
Individuals have exceeded seventy years in captivity. Written provision for the bird's care after the owner's death is a genuine consideration rather than a morbid one.