Goffin Cockatoo

The Goffin Cockatoo (Cacatua goffini) is the smallest of all Cockatoos. It inhabits Tanimbar Islands in Indonesia. The size of these birds is 9-12 inches in body length; the weight is 300 to 400 g. The coloration of the Goffin Cockatoo is white with pale yellow underside of the wings and tail and pink spots on the breast and in front of the eyes. The crest of these Cockatoos is pure white. In Goffin Cockatoos, the crest is shorter than in other Cockatoos. The crest of these birds stands up when the bird gets excited or frightened. Both sexes look almost alike in this species, but females have reddish-brown iris, while males have black or dark brown iris.

Goffin Cockatoos are very popular as pets because of their small size and playful, charming, and affectionate personality. The Goffin Cockatoo is described as active, communicative and very intelligent. Generally, Goffin Cockatoos are not known for their talking ability, but some birds can be taught to mimic several words. Many Goffin Cockatoos respond to music. To keep the Goffin Cockatoo entertained it should be provided with a number of stimulating toys: fresh tree branches, wood and rope toys, bells, noisemaker toys, and brightly colored toys. If bored, a Goffin Cockatoo develops bad habits: feather plucking, screaming, and aggressiveness. Many Goffin Cockatoos are excellent escape artists. It’s necessary to trim the bird’s wings to prevent it from flying away. If there are children in the family, beak trimming is recommended for safety.

A Goffin Cockatoo needs much attention and communication. To attract attention, these birds make loud screeches and it’s next to impossible to calm them down. Don’t buy a Goffin Cockatoo if you cannot spend a lot of time with it.

In the wild, the Goffin Cockatoo feeds on a variety of seeds, nuts, and fruit. In captivity, it can be fed commercial pellets and treated with fresh fruit, vegetables, and bread. It’s dangerous to overfeed a Goffin Cockatoo, as it’s prone to overweight and tumor developing. The average lifespan of these birds is over 40 years with good care. In the wild, the Goffin Cockatoo can live longer, if not trapped or killed by predators.