There are several cockatoos species, and each type has a different lifespan. If you own a cockatoo and you are curious about how long your baby parrot will stay with you, here is what you need to know.
Generally, cockatoos live for almost 40-70 years. Most of the large cockatoo types have a larger lifespan, and the shorter ones have a shorter lifespan. However, certain factors associated with their care impact their lifespan. If raised in good care, they can live beyond their average lifespan.
Now let’s talk about the lifespan of all cockatoo species and how you can help your cockatoo live longer.
| Cockatoo Species | Lifespan (in wild) | Lifespan (in captivity) |
|---|---|---|
| Umbrella Cockatoo | 35-50 | 40-70 |
| Sulphur-crested Cockatoo | 35-50 | 40-65 |
| Moluccan Cockatoo | 30-45 | 35-60 |
| Gang-gang Cockatoo | 25-40 | 35-50 |
| Bare-eyed Cockatoo | 25-40 | 35-50 |
| Long-billed Corella Cockatoo | 25-40 | 35-50 |
| Blue-eyed Cockatoo | 25-35 | 40-50 |
| Goffin’s Cockatoo | 25-40 | 35-50 |
| Galah Cockatoo | 25-40 | 35-50 |
| Citron-crested Cockatoo | 35-50 | 40-65 |
| Red-vented Cockatoo | 17-30 | 25-40 |
| Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo | 40-60 | 50-70 |
| Ducorps Corella Cockatoo | 25-40 | 35-50 |
| Cockatiel (Cockatoo) | 5-10 | 10-15 |
| Red-tailed Black Cockatoo | 25-40 | 35-50 |
| Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo | 25-40 | 35-50 |
| White-tailed Black Cockatoo | 25-40 | 35-50 |
| Glossy Black Cockatoo | 25-40 | 35-50 |
| Black Palm Cockatoo | 40-60 | 50-90 |
What factors impact the lifespan of cockatoos?
Do you know, Cockie, the oldest cockatoo ever recorded, passed at the age of 83 years? That’s over 2 times the age of an average Sulphur-crested cockatoo. Cockie was Major Mitchell’s cockatoo, despite having multiple sicknesses, he reached this age because he was raised in great care. [1] This explains how some cockatoos can live beyond their average lifespan.
Besides care, another important factor affecting cockatoos’ lifespan is safety. Most captive cockatoos live longer than wild cockatoos. This is because wild cockatoos are often hunted by predators and they are also affected by natural disasters like bushfires catching forests.
Wild cockatoos also have to search for food and starve sometimes and get no help in sickness. While the captive cockatoos do not have to go through any of it.
How to take good care of cockatoos so they live longer?
Below are a few things that you can do to enhance the lifespan of your cockatoo.
- Provide him with a balanced diet. Protein and nutrient-rich diets keep them healthy.
- Keep him in a good-sized cage. Make sure his cage is good enough to move around and has a few perches and a nestbox to stay warm in winter.
- Provide him with toys to play with. You cannot always be around your bird; he needs to stay engaged with something in your absence. Besides physical health, the mental health of cockatoos also impacts their lifespan.
- Never ignore your cockatoo for long. Cockatoos can fall into depression if ignored for a long.
- Take him to an avian at least once a year. Sometimes cockatoos get diseases that show no visual signs; medical checkups once in a while help identify them.
- Keep him somewhere safe. By safe, I mean somewhere he doesn’t have to face a dog barking to his face or children teasing him all the time. Cockatoos also need a peaceful and sound environment as we do.
- Make sure he sleeps well. If he is sleep deprived, it will severely affect his health.
Final Thoughts
Cockatoos raised in captivity have higher chances of living longer but only if given good care and environment. So if you are own a cockatoo, make sure you consider the factors that I have shared above and hopefully your baby bird will stay with you for a little longer.
