The most widespread species, such as the Galah and Cockatiel, are open-country specialists that feed on grass seeds. However, no species is found in all types of habitat. Some species have widespread distributions, with the Galah, for example, occurring over most of Australia, whereas other species have tiny distributions, confined to a small part of the continent, such as the Long-billed Black Cockatoo of Western Australia or to a small island group, such as the Tanimbar Corella, which is restricted to the Tanimbar Islands of Indonesia.Ĭockatoos occupy a wide range of habitats, from forests in subalpine zones to mangroves. Three species occur in both New Guinea and Australia. Interestingly, no cockatoo species are found in Borneo (despite their presence on nearby Palawan and Sulawesi) or many Pacific islands, although fossil remains have been recorded from New Caledonia. Eleven of the 21 species exist in the wild only in Australia, while seven species occur only in the islands of the Philippines, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. On average they are larger than other parrots however, the Cockatiel, the smallest cockatoo species, is a small bird.ĭistribution and habitat Ĭockatoos have a much more restricted range than the true parrots, occurring naturally only in Australasia. 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. Ĭockatoos are recognisable by the showy crests and curved and strong bills. The name cockatoo comes from the Malay name for these birds, kaka(k)tua, via the Dutch kaketoe. Along with the Psittacoidea ( true parrots) and the Strigopoidea ( New Zealand parrots), they make up the order Psittaciformes (parrots). A cockatoo is any of the 21 species belonging to the bird family Cacatuidae, the only family in the superfamily Cacatuoidea.
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