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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
Moluccan
cockatoo, salmon-crested cockatoo |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Aves |
| ORDER: |
Psittaciformes |
| FAMILY: |
Cacatuidae |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Cacatua
(referring to the bird's call) moluccensis
(referring to their origin) |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
The
Moluccan cockatoo is pale pink in color with a deep
salmon colored crest. The bill is gray-black and
the legs are gray. |
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| SIZE: |
Approximately
47.5-50 cm (19-20 in.) |
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| WEIGHT: |
Approximately
0.9 kg (2 lbs) |
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| DIET: |
Includes
seeds, nuts, fruits, berries, and some insects |
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| INCUBATION: |
Approximately 30 days |
| CLUTCH
SIZE |
2-6
eggs |
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| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
5-6
years |
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| LIFE
SPAN: |
65
or more years |
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| RANGE: |
Southern
Moluccan Islands (Ceram, Sapurua, Haruku) and the
Indonesian Islands |
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| HABITAT: |
Found
in dense forests |
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
Less
than 10,000 |
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| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Not
listed |
| CITES |
Appendix
I |
| USFWS |
Vulnerable |
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| 1. |
Moluccan
cockatoos are considered pests in coconut plantations.
They attack young coconuts, chewing through tough
outer layers to get to the soft pulp and milk. |
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| 2. |
Both
parents take part in incubating the eggs. |
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| 3. |
Moluccan
cockatoos can mimic the sounds of other animals,
including people. |
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| 4. |
Moluccan
cockatoos can hold their food in one foot and break
pieces off of it with the other foot. |
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| 5. |
Moluccan
cockatoos live in small, loose flocks. |
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| 6. |
They
are very gregarious and have one of the shrillest
cries of all birds. |
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Moluccan
cockatoos are a food source for many animals larger
than themselves.
Their
feeding habits are very destructive, which annoys
most gardeners.
They
aid in seed dispersal through their eating of
fruit.
This
species is very popular in the pet trade and is
considered to be an exceptionally easy bird to
tame. They are generally very affectionate toward
humans and have lively personalities. This species
is often used for show and appears quite comfortable
in exhibition halls among hundreds of other birds
and large crowds. One word of caution: since these
birds live a long time, owners often have to will
them to someone else in case they are unable to
care for them any longer.
The
U.S. Wild Bird Act forbids the commercial import
of any bird listed by CITES which includes most
parrots - endangered or threatened.
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|
|
| Austin,
G. Birds of the World. New York. Golden Press,
Inc., 1961. |
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|
Decoten,
A.E. Handbook of Cockatoos. Neptune City,
NJ. T.F.H. Pub., 1981.
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|
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Diefenbach,
K. The World of Cockatoos. Neptune City.
NJ. T.F.H. Publications, 1985.
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| Forshaw,
J.M. Parrots of the World. Neptune City,
NJ. T.F.H. Publications, 1977. |
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| Gotch,
A.F. Birds - Their Latin Names Explained.
UK. Blandford Books Ltd., 1981. |
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| Simpson,
D.P. Cassell's Latin Dictionary. New York.
Macmillan Publishing Company. 1959. |
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| http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/search/species_search.html |
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