Eleanora Cockatoos aka Greater Sulfur Crested Cockatoos, Medium Sulphur Crested Cockatoos
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The Eleanora Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita eleonora) is a sub-species of the greater sulfur-crested cockatoo. This cockatoo is native to the Aru islands off Indonesia. Its natural habitat includes the Savannah, scrub, mallee and woodland. They tend to stay close to water and are usually seen in flocks, except during breeding season when they stay in pairs.
Description:
White body; sulfur crest; pale yellow under wings, tail and around ears; light blue eye ring; iris color changes from pale gray to black (males) or red-brown (female) after the second year.
Length: 15-18 inches;
Weight:: 275-475 grams; Life span: 40+ years
Pet Qualities:
Hand-fed cockatoos make exceptionally loving pets. They are both friendly and intelligent, and are very social, affectionate creatures.
Joao describes his pet cockatoo featured to the right as follows:
"He really is an adorable pet. Cockatoos certainly demand attention, however, the Galerita Eleonora sub-species tends to be less needy and more independent. I sure do give mine attention, but only in the evenings. He is fine with his toys during the day. I live in an apartment,. There were never complaints from neighbors. You just have to establish limits from an early stage and be strong about them. Also don't give more attention in the beginning than you will be able to on a regular basis. They learn fast and will respect the rules. Give them lots of love when you can, establish when you can't, house them properly and they make wonderful pets."
Eleanora cockatoos may be less prone to developing behavior problems such as feather plucking and screaming
They are natural chewers, and as such should be provided with branches or strips of wood to satisfy this strong urge.
Some birds can be quite noisy, especially during the early morning and evening hours. These birds are very affectionate and playful, and can readily be taught to perform tricks. Its talking ability is considered good.
Training and Behavioral Guidance:
- Pet parrots generally present challenges, such as excessive chewing - especially at certain stages in their life. They do discover their beaks as method of "disciplining us" once they are out of the "baby stage" and they can generally be somewhat naughty, and it really is important to learn to understand them and to guide their behavior before an undesirable behavior has been established. Undisciplined parrots will chew on electric wiring potentially causing house fires. They regard anything in your home as a "toy" that can be explored and chewed on; destroying items that you may hold dear or are simply valuable. Even a young bird that has not been neglected and abused requires proper guidance; this becomes even more challenging when it involves a rescued bird that may require rehabilitation.
- Web Resources: I put together web resources for you to help you understand your pet bird and properly direct him. Please visit this website for valuable tips on parrot behavior and training.
- If you are, as I am, a visual learner and prefer step-by-step instructions to train your pet, I recommend:
- the Parrot Training Course to teach your parrot to:
- Stop Biting
- Perform Tricks &
- Tame ANY SIZE bird you could possibly own
- and/or try the "Teach Your Parrot to Talk" Training Course.
- the Parrot Training Course to teach your parrot to:
Housing:
The minimum dimensions of its cage should be 24" x 36" with 3/4", with 1" or 1 1/4" bar spacing. Plenty of chew toys and natural branches should be provided to satisfy their urge to chew.
Breeding:
The Eleanora Cockatoo reaches sexual maturity at 3 years old. The hen incbuates her eggs for about 28 days. The young wean at 14 ato 16 weeks.
If you are considering one of these magnificent parrots as pets, please visit the following websites for information:
- Procuring your Parrot
- Breeders:
- Do you breed this species and would like to be listed? Click here to see your options.
- Housing Your Bird
- Training Your Bird
- Bird Nutrition
- Parrot Products
If you would like to add to or correct any of the above information, or would like to share with web visitors your own experiences, please e-mail the webmaster.
Photo contributions are welcome!
