Eleonora Sulphur Crested Cockatoo

The Sulphur Crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita eleonora) comes in 4 varieties (Greator Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, Eleonora Cockatoos, Medium Sulphur Crested Cockatoos, and Triton Cockatoos.  They are all of the same species, but form different subspecies.  The Eleonora (also known as medium sulfur crested) differs from the Greater Sulphur Crested in that it doesn’t have as prominent white eye-rings (they often are a pale blue) and is smaller is body size.  With its pristine white plumage and striking, bright yellow crest, the sulphur-crested cockatoo is one of the most recognizable parrot species.  The crest is erectile and can reach up to 16 to 18 inches in length. The under surfaces of the wings and tail are washed with pale yellow, while the bill and feet are black and dark-grey.

Cockatoos aren’t as well known as some of the other parrots for their ability to mimic speech, but in general they do have pretty good speech capabilities.  Like most cockatoos the Eleonora Cockatoo is a social bird that is seen traveling in large flocks in the wild. For this reason, in captivity they require environments where they are given plenty of attention. If they are not allowed a lot of interaction with their owners, behavioral problems, such as screaming and feather plucking may result.  The Eleonora Cockatoo is very affectionate and will usually form a close bond with their owners.

It has been reported that hand-raised Eleonoras are less noisy than those that are not. Additionally they are reported to be more independent than some other species of cockatoo.  The Eleonora Cockatoo has a reputation as an escape artist and one may need to purchase a special lock for their cage to prevent unwanted escapes.

Lifespan~ 40+ years