Moluccan Cockatoo

People usually look up Moluccan (salmon-crested) cockatoos when they’re weighing up a pet bird, trying to understand a sudden change in behaviour (noise, biting, feather damage), or checking what “normal” care actually looks like for a species with a long life and a strong voice. The details matter. A cockatoo that’s under-stimulated, under-housed, or fed poorly can unravel into chronic stress behaviours and expensive vet problems.

Below is a clear, reality-based guide to what a Moluccan cockatoo is, where it comes from, what it needs day-to-day, and what commonly goes wrong in captivity—without the wishful thinking.

Quick facts (at a glance)

• Common names: Moluccan cockatoo; salmon-crested cockatoo
• Scientific name: Cacatua moluccensis
• Adult size: roughly 40–50 cm long (varies by individual)
• Lifespan: often several decades; 60+ years is possible with excellent care (plan for a lifetime commitment)
• Temperament: highly social, very intelligent; can become distressed without routine, enrichment, and appropriate handling
• Noise: loud, carrying calls; not well-suited to close neighbours
• Conservation: Endangered in the wild; international trade is tightly controlled (CITES Appendix I)^{1, 2}

Physical characteristics

The Moluccan cockatoo is one of the larger white cockatoos, with a pale peach wash through the feathers and a dramatic salmon-coloured crest that can be raised and lowered. Underwing and undertail feathers show a soft yellow tint, most noticeable in flight or when the wings are stretched. Adults have a dark bill and dark eyes, with subtle differences between individuals rather than bold “male/female” markings.^{3, 4}

Habitat and distribution (where they’re actually from)

In the wild, Moluccan cockatoos are endemic to the Seram (Seram archipelago) region of Maluku, eastern Indonesia, using forest habitats from lowlands into higher country. This is a restricted range, and that small footprint is part of why habitat loss hits hard.^{4, 5}

Claims that the species is naturally found across Papua New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, the Solomon Islands, the Philippines, or “established in Australia” are not supported by reputable range authorities. In some places outside Indonesia, occasional sightings may occur from escaped birds, but that is not the same as a native, self-sustaining wild range.⁴

Behaviour and social life

In captivity, the same traits that make a Moluccan cockatoo captivating can also make it difficult. They are alert, fast-learning birds that notice patterns—who leaves the house, when the kettle boils, where the favourite perch is. They can bond strongly with people, and they often struggle when their social world is inconsistent.

Common behaviours you’ll need to plan around:

• Contact calling: loud, repeated calling when separated from their preferred person or flock.
• Chewing and dismantling: a normal, necessary behaviour that becomes destructive when they lack safe outlets.
• Over-arousal: screaming, frantic pacing, biting, or feather damage when routines, sleep, or handling are off.

Not every bird will show all of these, but the species as a whole rewards steady routines, generous enrichment, and calm boundaries more than “constant cuddles”.

Housing and daily exercise

Moluccan cockatoos need space to move, climb, and fully extend their wings, plus time out of the enclosure every day. A cage that only fits perches and bowls is not a home; it’s a holding pen. If an aviary-style setup is possible, it usually makes life easier for both bird and household—provided it’s safe, escape-proof, and protected from weather extremes.

Practical housing priorities:

• Room to climb and flap: wide footprint matters as much as height.
• Chewable enrichment: untreated branches, shreddable toys, foraging opportunities.
• Predictable sleep: uninterrupted dark, quiet time is not optional for long-term behaviour stability.⁶

Diet and feeding (wild vs captivity)

In the wild, they feed largely on seeds, nuts, fruit and other plant material, with some animal matter such as insects and larvae. Captive diets should be built for long-term health, not just preference.⁴

A widely recommended approach for pet parrots is:

• Base diet: a formulated pelleted diet suited to cockatoos/parrots (choose with an avian vet’s guidance).
• Fresh foods daily: vegetables and leafy greens; fruit in smaller amounts.
• Energy-dense treats: nuts and seeds in moderation, often best used for training or foraging.
• Water: clean, fresh water at all times.

Sudden diet changes can backfire; a measured transition works better. If weight, droppings, or behaviour shifts noticeably, treat it as a health signal and book an avian vet.

Grooming and handling: what to do (and what to avoid)

Routine care is mostly about supporting normal feather condition: regular access to bathing (mist, shallow dish, or shower perch), good diet, and appropriate humidity. “Feather trimming” is not a standard grooming need. Flight feathers are not hair; they don’t grow back on a schedule, and aggressive wing clipping can increase falls, injuries, and behaviour problems. If flight restriction is necessary for safety, it’s best discussed with an avian vet and done conservatively.⁶

Also be wary of handling that accidentally stimulates breeding behaviour. Persistent stroking along the back and under the wings can escalate hormonal behaviours in some parrots and may worsen aggression or feather-destructive behaviour.⁷

Common health concerns

Feather destructive behaviour (plucking/chewing)

Feather damage is common enough in captive parrots that it should be treated as a warning light, not “a habit”. Causes are usually a blend of medical and behavioural factors—skin disease, infection, nutritional problems, chronic stress, sleep disruption, or lack of foraging and enrichment. A proper work-up with an avian veterinarian matters, because you can’t reliably “train away” a medical cause.^{8, 9}

Respiratory illness and bird-to-human disease (psittacosis)

Parrots and cockatoos can carry Chlamydia psittaci (avian chlamydiosis). In people, infection is called psittacosis (ornithosis). It most often spreads by inhaling dust or aerosols from dried droppings, respiratory secretions, and feather dust—especially during cage cleaning. Good hygiene, careful cleaning that minimises dust, and prompt veterinary attention for unwell birds reduce risk.¹⁰

Breeding and reproduction (a reality check)

Moluccan cockatoos can breed in captivity, but breeding is not a casual “next step”. It requires specialised housing, stable pair compatibility, experience reading behaviour, and veterinary oversight. Breeding attempts can increase territoriality and hormonal behaviour, and they can be stressful or dangerous for incompatible birds.

If breeding is a genuine goal, seek advice from an avian vet and an experienced, ethical breeder network before introducing nesting options.

Threats and conservation

In the wild, Moluccan cockatoos are threatened primarily by habitat loss and trapping for the bird trade. The species is listed as Endangered, and it is included on CITES Appendix I, which means international commercial trade in wild-caught birds is prohibited and any legal international movement is tightly regulated.^{1, 2, 4}

Keeping a Moluccan cockatoo as a pet: genuine pros and cons

Pros

• Deeply engaging: intelligent, observant, and often responsive to training and routines.
• Long-lived companion: for the right household, the relationship can be stable for decades.
• Social presence: they tend to stay interested in what’s happening around them.

Cons

• Noise: loud calling is normal, not a mistake to “fix”.
• Time demand: daily out-of-cage time, enrichment, and interaction are essential.
• Destruction: chewing is part of being a cockatoo; furniture and fittings need protection.
• Behaviour risk: chronic stress can show up as screaming, biting, and feather damage.
• Cost: large enclosure, constant enrichment, quality diet, and avian vet care add up.

Final thoughts

A Moluccan cockatoo is not just a bird with a pretty crest. It’s a forest-dwelling, long-lived animal built for movement, noise, social contact, and constant problem-solving. When those needs are met—space, sleep, diet, enrichment, and sensible handling—the bird often settles into a steady rhythm. When they aren’t, the problems are rarely small, and they rarely stay contained.

References

1. CITES taxonomy: Cacatua moluccensis (listing and species entry)
2. CITES Appendices (official listings)
3. World Parrot Trust: Salmon-crested (Moluccan) Cockatoo species profile
4. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (search: Cacatua moluccensis)
5. Bird Conservation International (Cambridge University Press): Distribution, abundance and habitat preferences of the Salmon-crested Cockatoo on Seram (2010)
6. Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of pet birds (housing, handling, wing trimming considerations)
7. Merck Veterinary Manual: Reducing feather plucking (environment, handling and sleep)
8. UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine: Feather-picking in parrots
9. Merck Veterinary Manual (Bird owners): Skin and feather disorders of pet birds
10. Victoria State Government (Health): Psittacosis (ornithosis, parrot fever)