Aru Island Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
Scientific Name: Cacatua galerita eleonora
Fast Facts
- Natural Habitat: Woodlands, Monsoon forests, semi-arid savannas and rainforests
- Distribution: Aru Islands in the Maluku province of eastern Indonesia.
- Lifespan: 40–60 years
- Diet: Seeds, nuts, berries, buds, flowers, leaves and insects and their larvae.
- Weight: 404–602 g
Behaviour
Aru Island sulphur-crested cockatoos are highly intelligent and good at solving problems. Individuals will use their strong beaks to crack open hard-shell nuts or extract insect larvae from wood or bark. They will often forage in flocks so that they get sufficient protection from predators while still efficiently feeding. They can live in flocks of up to 20 individuals that split into smaller groups during the day. These birds are very effective at mimicking; they can replicate sounds from other species or environments. They use their yellow crest to signal excitement, danger or aggression to each other.
Reproduction
The breeding season is mainly from September to January when the bird will build its nest in a tree hollow or rock crevice. The courtship rituals are elaborate and involve the male raising his yellow crest, performing head bobbing movements, vocalising in duets with the female and mutual preening. The female will lay 2–3 white oval eggs that hatch after an incubation period of 30 days. Both the male and female will incubate the eggs and help to care for the chicks.
Conservation Status
Least Concern (LC)
Threats
Habitat destruction due to logging and agricultural expansion which have caused the Aru Island sulphur-crested cockatoo’s habitat to become fragmented. This has affected both nesting grounds and foraging. They also face threats due to the pet trade.
Conservation
They are protected under CITES Appendix II to help control international trade and prevent overexploitation.
Did You Know?
- Aru Island sulphur-crested cockatoos can perceive and synchronise to musical beats. This was demonstrated by an individual named Snowball in a viral video in 2007 on YouTube that showed him dancing to “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” by the Backstreet Boys where he bobbed his head and lifted his feet in time with the rhythm.
