Feathered Family Inc.

Umbrella Cockatoo

(Cacatua Alba)

The beautiful and captivating Umbrella Cockatoo. Sometimes referred to as one of the loudest Cockatoos, the Umbrella is one of the most popular companion parrots. With their amazing crests, expressive faces, and cuddly personalities these incredible birds can be hard to resist. Unfortunately Umbrellas are also known for being highly neurotic and self destructive if everything in their environment is not exactly right. Highly intelligent parrots, they can learn many tricks and other ways to please their companion people. Umbrellas are not known especially for their talking ability, but they are capable of speech if they choose to  learn it.

It is also important to remember that male umbrella cockatoos are known for sexual aggression with their mates, be it human or parrot. They have torn the beaks off of other birds, and mutilated them in other ways also. It is important that people protect themselves from this kind of behavior, never allowing a cockatoo on your shoulder is an important step one. I've also heard (and lived with) Cockatoos have a thing for chasing feet and toes. While this may sound cute and cuddly, take a moment to imagine that beak wrapped around one of your toes, HARD. It can be more than painful, it can be devastating, and its a situation best avoided.



My personal experience with these birds has been wonderful. Ceebee is a gentle parrot, who is well socialized, and trained in a number of ways to make our lives together richer. I don't believe though that they are for everyone, as Cockatoos in general need extreme amounts of time spent caring for their diverse needs, and not everyone is capable or willing of providing this. While I can easily understand how beautiful and captivating the Umbrella Cockatoo is, one must consider all aspects of sharing your home with a parrot who is capable of destruction, to itself and your property. Many of the rescues we have worked with at Feathered Family of this species have been gentle birds who just "outgrew" their human home.

We think it is especially important to be aware that the Umbrella Cockatoo goes through phases at it matures, from a snuggly baby bird, to a hormonal teenage bird, and to an adult bird who has needs, desires, and its own agenda. The commitment needed to care for these birds into adulthood is huge, and no one should take one lightly. We have experienced many of the different phases of Cockatoo life with not only our rescue resident Umbrellas, but also with our own Ceebee and it is not always easy or fun to raise them. Adopting an older bird may help to sidestep some of the harder phases of the Umbrella Cockatoo's growth, but it cannot prevent anyone from going through some of these phases. If the bird was not properly socialized and taught independent behaviors as a juvenile an adult bird is often even harder to live with and care for than anyone expects.



We at Feathered Family implore anyone considering adding any Cockatoo to their life to please be sure and consider all aspects and to be fully aware of the potential for problems down the road. The commitment needed to give these beautiful birds is huge, and not something to be entered into lightly.