Natural habitat

Every species of cockatoo has it’s own natural habitat, depending on the country where the species occurs. No species is alike, and even populations of the same species can live in slightly different habitats. Here you will find a general description of the surroundings of wild cockatoos. The Australian cockatoo species generally live in very large groups and stay in the open field a lot, while the other species generally live in smaller groups and spend more time in the canopy.

Wild bare-eyed cockatoos in Australia

The cockatoo species that are living in Indonesia live in tropical or subtropical forests or on the edges of these forests. These species are for example the Umbrella cockatoo and the Moluccan Cockatoo. Species from Australia are mostly seen in open fields and only use trees to nest and sleep in. The most known species of Australia are the sulphur crested cockatoo and the corella species.

Wild sulphur-crested cockatoo in flight

All species of cockatoo make a nest in the hollow of a tree. They do not make this hole themselves, but find existing holes. When a hole suits them, they will change the size of the opening to make it more suitable. Even though most cockatoo species live in large groups, the nests can be spread out on a very large area.

Food will be collected on the ground and in the trees. Nuts and seeds will be found on the ground, while fruit, leaves, buds and insects will be obtained from the trees. The Australian species of cockatoo are mainly depended on food they find on the ground. These Australian species also generally forage in large groups, so many cockatoos will watch out for the safety of the group while they are in a vulnerable position on the ground. The species from other countries will be more often found in the foliage of the trees.