Birds Guide

Moluccan Cockatoo Conservation status: Vulnerable
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia   Phylum: Chordata   Class: Aves   Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Cacatuidae   Subfamily: Cacatuinae   Genus: Cacatua   Subgenus: Cacatua   Species: C. moluccensis
Binomial name
Cacatua moluccensis Gmelin, 1788

The Moluccan Cockatoo, Cacatua moluccensis also known as Salmon-crested Cockatoo is a cockatoo endemic to south Moluccas in eastern Indonesia. At 50 cm, it is the largest of the white cockatoos. The female is larger than the males on average. It has white-pink feathers with a definite peachy glow, a slight yellow on the underwing and a large retractable recumbent crest which it raises when threatened to frighten potential attackers. It also has a loud voice and in captivity is a capable mimic.

In the wild the Moluccan Cockatoo inhabits lowland forests below 1000m. The diet consists mainly of seeds, nuts and fruit, as well as coconuts.

Endangered status in the wild

The Moluccan Cockatoo is an endangered species, and has been listed on appendix I of CITES since 1989, which makes trade in wild-caught birds illegal. Trade in captive bred birds is legal only with appropriate CITES certification. Numbers have declined due to illegal trapping for the cage-bird trade and habitat loss. During the height of the trapping of this species over 6,000 birds were being removed from the wild per year. It has a stronghold in Manusela National Park on Seram, although even today some illegal trapping continues.

Aviculture

The Moluccan Cockatoo can no longer be imported into the United States because of its being listed on the Wild Bird Conservation Act. However they are being bred in captivity. The potential owner should be aware of the bird's needs, and know how loud these birds can be.

References

• BirdLife International (2004). Cacatua moluccensis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is vulnerable

External links

• BirdLife Species Factsheet
• IUCN Red List
• Red Data Book
• Moluccan Cockatoo photo on Pc-Zoo
• Project Bird Watch Project Bird Watch is a group of people dedicated to the study and protection of the Moluccan, and other parrots in their natural habitat in the Indonesian Islands. One of their many projects is to encourage and develop eco-tourism as an alternative to trapping the birds for the native dwellers of the area.