The Moluccan Cockatoo, also known as the Salmon-crested Cockatoo is native to the Seran Archipelago of Indonesia. They inhabit lowland forests with elevations below 1000 metres (3300 feet). It is one of the largest of the cockatoos, with a height of 46-52 cm (18 – 20 in.) and a weight of 850 gm (2 lb.).

Both sexes are pink white with a crest that is bright red-orange when raised. The female is larger than the male. They live in large flocks but pair bond for life.

Their food consists of seeds, nuts, fruit, coconuts and ground dwelling insects. The beak has a biting force of 500 pounds making it possible to bite through tough nuts.

This cockatoo was listed by CITES in Appendix 1 in 1986. This makes it illegal to trade in wild caught birds. Captive bred birds can be sold with a CITES certification.

Fun Facts

The crest is raised as a sign of aggression, as a display for its mate or to signal to other members of the flock. Habitat destruction and the illegal capture of birds for the pet trade are the greatest threats today.