Cockatoo vs. Parrot: Main Differences (With Pictures)

A few of the hottest birds that folks preserve as pets are members of the cockatoo and the parrot households. Their intelligence, vibrant plumage, and social natures endear them to skilled and novice chicken house owners the world over.

For those who’re new to proudly owning birds, you won’t notice that cockatoos are parrots. The parrot household, or members of the order Psittaciformes, contains just below 400 species of birds that every one have distinctive curved beaks and zygodactyl ft. These embrace cockatoos, parakeets, macaws, cockatiels, and even the flightless and critically endangered kākāpō.

Whereas cockatoos and parrots are each members of the identical household, there are lots of variations between them. Their dimension, look, and coloring all differ, however additionally they have totally different abilities and personalities. This information will introduce you to cockatoos and parrots, the variations between them, and why all cockatoos are parrots however not all parrots are usually not cockatoos.

Visible Variations

At a Look

Cockatoo Overview

For those who’re acquainted with cockatoos already, you could be conscious that they’re really a sub-family of parrots. The cockatoo is a superfamily that falls below the order Psittaciformes, the identical as parrots. They belong to the Cacatuidae household, which incorporates 21 totally different species.

Whereas they’re thought-about to be parrots, there are many variations that set them other than different parrot species.

Character

The cockatoo won’t be identified for his or her means to speak, however like different parrots, they’re nonetheless thought-about to be fairly clever. When paired with an skilled and devoted proprietor, cockatoos will be taught quite a lot of methods, together with methods to dance.

Nonetheless, apart from cockatiels, cockatoos aren’t newbie pleasant in any respect. They’re affectionate, however they’re additionally extremely demanding, particularly once they’re searching for your consideration and really feel like they’re being ignored.

They don’t simply want loads of room of their cage; additionally they want many toys and actions to maintain them entertained. You’ll want to provide them time to fly round exterior of the cage too. After they’re not given sufficient issues to do, similar to forage for meals, fly round, or discover, you possibly can count on them to develop dangerous habits like damaging or aggressive conduct, each towards your furnishings and themselves.

Cockatoos are the loudest members of the parrot household, with a harsh, penetrating voice that makes them unsuitable for flats, lest you annoy your neighbors.

Their character can differ between species, with the Moluccan Cockatoo being one of many loudest and the Umbrella Cockatoo being identified for his or her clinginess however much less high-strung temperament.

Look

Cockatoos are straightforward to differentiate from different parrots. Their look can differ relying on their species, however all of them share comparable traits. The obvious distinction is the colour of their plumage, with white or black being the most typical colours.

All cockatoos will be acknowledged by the crest of feathers on high of their heads. This crest is adjustable, and cockatoos are identified for utilizing it to point out off to their house owners or different birds and to make themselves look greater. They’re the one parrot household with this crest.

Most cockatoos are additionally bigger than different parrot species, even once they’re not utilizing their trendy crest to look greater than they’re. The cockatiel is the one exception, being the smallest of the cockatoo household.

Habitat

Not like the remainder of the parrot household, cockatoos aren’t unfold all through all of the tropical and subtropical areas on the planet. Their native habitat is extra restricted and usually confined to Australia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

Since they’re extremely widespread pets, although, captive cockatoos will be discovered all over the world exterior of their native setting. A lot of them are additionally surrendered to shelters as a result of inexperienced chicken house owners wrestle to maintain up with their wants.

Appropriate For:

Apart from the cockatiel, cockatoos aren’t appropriate for novice chicken house owners or households with younger kids. They require quite a lot of time exterior of their cage, loads of consideration, and plenty of toys to maintain them entertained.

These birds are vulnerable to creating dangerous conduct like biting in the event that they’re not socialized correctly. Cockatoos also can develop habits like feather destruction and self-mutilation, which will be troublesome for inexperienced house owners to deal with.

They are often taught to get together with different pets, nevertheless it’s really useful that you just preserve them with different cockatoos. Canine and cats are predator animals, and your cockatoo would possibly really feel threatened by their presence.

Parrot Overview

You would possibly assume that parrots are solely the flashy crimson, inexperienced, or blue birds that may mimic human speech. Nonetheless, the parrot household encompasses 390 totally different species, together with the cockatoo. They arrive in all sizes, shapes, temperaments, and colours. Parrots will be acknowledged by their vibrant plumage, curved beaks, and zygodactyl ft.

They are often members of the Cacatuidae household, just like the cockatoo, however may also be a part of the 2 different superfamilies within the order Psittaciformes. Outdoors of the cockatoo household, parrots embody the Psittacidae (“True” Parrots) household and the Strigopidae (New Zealand Parrots) household.

Cockatoos could be parrots, however the parrot household contains extra birds than simply the cockatoo superfamily.

Character

Together with members of the Corvidae household like crows, ravens, and jays, parrots are among the many most clever chicken species on the planet. They will mimic human speech and have a knack for selecting up methods. Nonetheless, the personalities of various parrot species can differ relying on the person chicken.

Many parrots will be unbiased and loud, whereas others are quiet and laidback. Some parrots could be affectionate once they’re youthful however develop into extra aloof or aggressive once they’re older, which is why it’s vital to think about the species rigorously earlier than getting a pet chicken.

Most of all, many parrot species are extremely social. Whereas they may not get together with cats or canine, most parrots really feel essentially the most comfy once they produce other parrots to work together with. Within the wild, parrots typically reside in flocks of as much as 30 birds. That is why many parrots will be demanding of your consideration.

Look

In comparison with the cockatoo, most parrot species are smaller and extra brightly coloured. They’ve the identical curved beak and intelligence as different members of the parrot household, however most of them lack the distinctive crest that the cockatoo household is understood for.

Probably the most common colors that parrots include green, crimson, and blue, with yellow or gold feathers. That is as a result of Macaw parrots—such because the Scarlet Macaw or the Blue-and-Yellow Macaw—being essentially the most hanging and most simply acknowledged members of the parrot household. One other widespread parrot is the Gray Parrot, which regardless of their less-striking grey plumage, are famend for his or her stellar means to imitate human speech.

Habitat

Whereas the cockatoo household is proscribed to just a few areas of the Pacific, the remainder of the parrot household is much extra widespread. The world that every parrot is native to relies on their species, however they are often present in all of the tropical and subtropical areas on the planet. These embrace South and Southeast Asia, Central and South America, Africa, Australia, and Oceania.

Appropriate For:

There are such a lot of members of the parrot household that there’s one for all chicken lovers. Sadly, they’re not all suitable for beginners, and the massive parrots are sometimes really useful for skilled chicken house owners solely. Many parrots are additionally not appropriate for households with different pets like cats and canine or with younger kids, because the birds would possibly really feel threatened by the presence of a predator or the noise stage.

Since many parrots are extremely lengthy lived and steadily outlive their house owners, they want a devoted proprietor who’s prepared to make a lifelong dedication to their care.

Which Breed Is Proper for You?

Cockatoos will be distinguished from parrots by their less-vibrant coloring and the crest of movable feathers on the highest of their heads. That stated, they’re a member of the parrot household and embody 21 species throughout the 390 totally different species of parrots. As a member of the order Psittaciformes, cockatoos are very smart, sociable, and straightforward to coach, identical to different parrot species. Additionally they share similarities of their look, similar to their curved beak and zygodactyl ft.

Whereas all cockatoos are parrots, they’re solely a subfamily of the parrot genus. This implies not all parrots are cockatoos. Different parrot species embrace macaws, parakeets, lovebirds, lorikeets, and Amazons.

Most parrots will be distinguished from cockatoos by the dearth of a crest on their heads and the colourful colours of their plumage. Additionally they are usually smaller and quieter than cockatoos.

All parrot species, together with cockatoos, require devoted house owners prepared to place within the time to be taught concerning the species and supply loads of consideration and leisure. Parrots are lifelong companions that construct unwavering bonds with their house owners and will be affectionate and playful, with a love for studying new methods.

Featured Picture Credit score: (L) Moonfullofstars, Shutterstock | (R) Eko Budi Utomo, Shutterstock