Moluccan Cockatoo

Range: Moluccan Islands, Indonesia

Habitat: Grasslands, forests

Natural Diet: Primarily seeds.

Diet at Rain Forest: Seed, fruits & fresh greens.

Size: 2nd largest of all Cockatoo species the Moluccan is a very large bird with showy peach colored feathers.  Like many of the large parrot family members the Moluccan Cockatoo is monomorphic.

The bird in this photo is Big Bird a male Moluccan hatched in 1991.    Big Bird is aspiring to break the record held by Cookie at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, Il.  Cookie arrived in 1936 when the zoo opened and is still there today!  The average life span of a wild cockatoo is assumed to be 30-40 years, in captivity these animals can clearly live to be well into their 80's!

Rain Forest Facts: This bird possesses a beautiful crest that is curved to the rear. A highly intelligent and friendly bird, the Moluccan is often the favorite of keepers who get to know these wonderful animals.

Status in Wild: Declining due primarily to loss of habitat.  Numbers may have never been large due to limited natural geographical range.