The Cockatoo goes against expectations and becomes a friend of the dog

Sophie, a playful and jealous cockatoo, has always been the “queen of the house” for American musician Tyler Rayn. For this reason, when he adopted Nora, a labradoodle puppy, he was afraid that the bird would not accept sharing space and attention.

The concern made sense: Cockatoos form intense bonds with their owners and can react poorly to new companions. But to Tyler’s surprise, the opposite happened. Sophie approached Nora with caution and curiosity, quickly accepting her presence.

Over time, games, cuddles and even naps were added. Today the two are inseparable, demonstrating that true friendship knows no barriers and that, with patience, the most unlikely bonds can blossom.

Exotic and with a colorful crest, the Cockatoo is a beautiful, sociable and intelligent bird. It later became popular as a pet in various parts of the world and has its own characteristics. Flipar shows off some of these traits in this gallery.

They are psittaciform birds, belonging to the Cacatuidae family, and are native to South-East Asia and Australia. In Brazil, they are animals that have IBAMA regularization to be purchased by people who wish to take care of them, nationwide.

It is worth noting that there are 21 species of this bird, each with its own specific characteristics and needs. They therefore measure on average 40 cm to 50 cm and weigh between 500 g and 900 g. The best known is the “cockatoo nymph”, the famous cockatiels.

These animals are very similar to parrots in terms of their banana-shaped beak and zygodactylic morphology of their feet (two toes forward, two toes back).

As distinguishing features, cockatoos have a movable crest and plain colored plumage. Geographically they are distributed in Oceania (more precisely in the Australian forests) and in the nearby Pacific islands.

Noisy, active and colourful, cockatoos have curved beaks and feet with great movement capacity, used for walking, climbing trees and putting food in their mouths.

They specialize in eating seeds and cracking nuts. They gather in large flocks, live in relatively humid environments and have short tails, feeding mainly on the ground.

Cockatoos are intelligent animals and can copy melodies, sounds of other animals and even the human voice. These birds can learn and reproduce some words, but have difficulty producing complete sentences, unlike parrots.

The young of these birds need a lot of care and attention. Toys are useful for expending energy, as this species enjoys screwing, unscrewing, removing buttons, opening snaps or doors, untying knots, and other similar activities.

Nationwide, they require regular veterinary checks, along with careful observation for any changes in behavior or physical appearance to prevent disease.

Cockatoos have a life expectancy ranging from 30 to 75 years. What makes this bird different from others is its crest, which rises and falls depending on its mood.

If they feel forgotten or abandoned, they tend to pluck their feathers and destroy everything around them, be it plants, furniture, appliances and even clothes.

The word cockatoo (English name for cockatoo) dates back to the 20th century and comes from the Dutch kaketoe, which derives from the Malay kakaktua. Seventeenth-century variants include cacato, cockatoo, and crockadore.

It is not easy to distinguish males and females since there are no specific physical characteristics for each sex. There are differences in the color of the crest or the color of the eyes. However, they are often sneaky and it is necessary to compare birds of both sexes.

From the age of 4 they are already ripe for procreation. The female lays 2 to 3 eggs which she and the male incubate alternately for 26-30 days, while the chicks take their first flight after nine weeks.

Cockatoos generally develop a very close relationship with a guardian, to whom they give immense love and affection. Furthermore, they are also jealous and defend their favorite person tooth and nail, in this case with their strong beak.

The black-and-red-tailed cockatoo is also a bird of the Psittaciformes order that can reach 60 centimeters in length and live up to 70 years.

Although they prefer routines, cockatoos can adapt to new environments and routines if introduced carefully and with emotional support.

Finally, cockatoos are diurnal and monogamous birds, as they always live with the same partner. They can also behave using gestures and signals with their wings, indicating when they need refreshment or are hungry.