Bare-eyed or Little Corella Cockatoos

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The Little Corella, Cacatua sanguinea - sometimes referred to as the bare-eyed cockatoo - is endemic to Eastern, North-western and Northern Australia. It is so common in its natural habitat that it has become something of a pest throughout much of Australia, as it can be destructive to the trees in which it perches by chewing the bark off smaller twigs.

The Little Corella congregates in flocks of up to several thousand birds, which often include many Galahs. These cockatoos generally roosts in trees overnight, and fly off to feed in the early morning with an almost deafening screeching. It mostly feeds on the ground, eating seeds including cereal crops such as wheat and barley.

Description:

The general plumage is white with a very short broad crest. The lores (the region between the eye and bill on the side of a bird's head) and base of the feathers to the head, nape (lower back of the neck), breast and back are orange-pink. The ear-coverts and feathers above the eyes are tinged dusky-yellow. The underside of the tail-feathers and wings are washed with yellow. The bill is greyish-horn color and elongated. The narrow periophthalmic ring is bluish-grey, extending to the upper cheeks. They have dark brown irides (= plural of iris) and grey feet.

Males and females look alike. Immature / young birds look like adults, but have a shorter bill and their periophthalmic ring is less blue.

Size: Average length: 36 to 40 cm (15 ins), wing length 288 - 330 mm (11.5 - 13 ins)

Training and Behavioral Guidance:

Bare-eyed Cockatoos are less demanding and noisy than most of the other cockatoo species, and are loved for their clowny, affectionate personality. Just like the goffins cockatoos, they make a good choice for people who would like a cockatoo that is somewhat easier to accommodate than the larger species. This does not, however, mean that keeping them caged all day without much attention is acceptable. There are many bare-eyed cockatoos in captivity who have developed severe behavioral problems under such sad conditions. They are loving and playful, and should be an integral participant in family life. This is not a "cage bird" - but a fun and extremely loving companion for the right bird owner.

Talking in general terms, cockatoos certainly demand a lot of attention, but are appreciated for their exceptionally loving, devoted personality that is second to none. Cockatoos require an extremely dedicated owner who is willing to provide significant and meaningful attention to these intelligent parrots. They require consistent training from a young age to ensure potential cockatoo owners enjoy a bird free of destructive and annoying habits. Behavioral challenges that cockatoos present include:

• Excessive Chewing: Any parrot will chew. In nature, they use their beak to "customize" their favorite tree, to enlarge the size of their nest in a tree hollow. Doing this keeps their beaks in good condition. The problem is excessive and undesirable chewing. Undisciplined cockatoos will chew on electric wiring potentially causing house fires. The owner needs to provide plenty of "healthy" chewing opportunities (bird toys, natural wood branches, etc.) and training is necessary to teach a cockatoo what is "off-limits."



• Biting: Cockatoos, as most parrots, are likely to discover their beaks as a method of "disciplining us" once they are out of the "baby stage." It really is important to learn to understand them and to guide their behavior before an undesirable behavior has been established. If this behavior is unchecked, the cockatoo is likely to be dominating the entire family, chasing and attacking their least favorite humans (usually the ones they deem to be a competitor for their human mate's affection). Training is vital to stop this destructive behavior.



• Screaming: Not everybody can tolerate the natural loud call of a cockatoo, and even though it can't (or should not) be entirely eliminated, there are ways to discourage screaming / screeching in your pet cockatoo.
  

Training and behavioral guidance will help your pet be the kind of companion you want it to be ...

• AvianWeb Resources: I put together web resources for you to help you understand your pet bird and properly direct him. Please visit this website for valuable tips on parrot behavior and training. If you found a way to resolve a "parrot behavioral issue" please share it with others.


• If you are, as I am, a visual learner and prefer step-by-step instructions to train your pet, I recommend:
  
  • the Parrot Training Course to teach your parrot to:
    • Stop Biting
    • Perform Tricks &
    • Tame ANY SIZE bird you could possibly own
  • and/or try the "Teach Your Parrot to Talk" Training Course.

If you are considering one of these magnificent parrots as pets, please visit the following websites for information:

• Cockatoo General Information



• Procuring your Parrot
  • Bird Breeders


• The 3 Key Elements to Keep Your Pet Bird Happy & Healthy



• Housing Your Bird



• Bird Nutrition



• Parrot Products

Taxonomy:

Genus: English: White Black-billed Cockatoos ... Dutch: Wit & Zwartsnavelkakatoes ... German: Eigentliche Kakadus ... French: Cacatoès

Species: Scientific: Cacatua sanguinea sanguinea aka Cacatua pastinator sanguina ... English: Little Corella, Bare-eyed Cockatoos ... Dutch: Naaktoog Kakatoe ... German: Nacktaugenkakadu, Rotzügelkakadu ... French: Petit corella, Cacatoès à oeil nu

CITES II - Endangered Species

Sub-Species / Races Including Nominate: normantoni, sanguinea

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