Cockatoos

Check the lexicon of parrots to help get your cockatoos sorted out. The sulphur crested have an especially jumbled set of terminology.

(From Tavistock, p. 156, 1929)
Greater Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo: ... there are records of individuals living to a stupendous age - over 100 years in a few cases. The bird becomes very tame and much attached to its owner, sometimes allowing even strangers to handle it with impunity. It also makes a fair talker, but like all its tribe, is given, in moments of excitement, to yelling in the most apalling fashion.

(From Tavistock, p. 159, 1929)
Its voice is exceedingly unpleasant, a loud, quavering scream uttered in a harassed tone and when frightened or angry it emits a truly hideous din.

Anyone who thinks that these words from some 70 years ago are any less true today should visit this site: Cockatoos.

All this now being said, it remains to be said that Cockatoos are among the most beautiful and affectionate of all parrots. All things have their flip side, their affectionate nature is a need as much as a virtue and these birds can be very demanding. Some have gone so far as to say that unless you are at home all day long, you should not keep one of these birds.