Quick answer
Key facts about sulphur-crested cockatoo — size, diet, habitat, and conservation in one place.
Crest signals and flock life
The yellow crest rises when the bird is alarmed, excited, or displaying — a visible signal across open woodland. Cockatoos feed in noisy flocks, screeching as they move between roost trees and feeding grounds. Strong pair bonds last years or life.
Intelligence and problem solving
Cockatoos open bin lids, dismantle lawn ornaments, and solve multi-step puzzles in research settings. Wild birds learn to exploit human food sources, becoming familiar sights in Sydney and Canberra suburbs where they chew decking and window frames.
Agricultural conflict
Large flocks damage grain, fruit, and nut crops, leading to culling permits in some Australian states despite Least Concern status. Their intelligence makes deterrence difficult — scare devices often fail after brief habituation.
Pet trade demands
Cockatoos are charismatic pets but need decades of attention, large enclosures, and mental stimulation. Feather plucking and screaming result from neglect. Captive breeding supplies most pets; wild export is restricted under CITES.