Cockatoos, being colorful and chattering birds, easily catch other species’ attention. You might already know about some of the most obvious predators, like cats and eagles, but there are more. Let’s talk about the top 7 predators that eat cockatoos.
The most common predators that prey on cockatoos are eagles, owls, hawks, falcons, bats, snakes, and cats. Other creatures hunt cockatoos, but the mentioned species are the biggest hunters of cockatoos. Besides other birds and animals, sometimes humans also prey on cockatoos.
The wide variety of predators in forests is the reason why cockatoos live shorter in the wild as compared to in captivity. Let’s talk about all the cockatoo predators in detail, why, and how they hunt cockatoos.
1. Eagles
Almost all types of eagles hunt cockatoos, but above all, Harpy eagles are the biggest predator of cockatoos. They are large and strong, so they not only hunt small cockatoos but large ones as well.
Harpy eagles have an excellent vision; they can even trace a cockatoo sitting on a tree branch several kilometers away. They are far better at flight and speed, making it difficult for cockatoos to escape.
Besides eagles, falcons and hawks also hunt cockatoos. They are also good at chasing cockatoos and hunting them.
2. Bats
You might have seen small bats, but they are bats that are greater than some cockatoo species. Such bats prey on cockatoos, especially baby cockatoos that freshly fledge out of the nest.
Generally, bats are nocturnal, so they mostly hunt cockatoos at night, but some bats are diurnal and hunt in daylight.
3. Owls
Since most owls are active at night and cockatoos can’t see at night, they become easy prey. Owls usually hunt baby cockatoos and cockatoo eggs. The Puerto Rican screech owl is the biggest hunter of cockatoos among all owl species.
4. Cats
Almost all cat species, including jaguars and leopards, hunt cockatoos in the jungle. Most wild cats that hunt cockatoos are small in size and can easily climb onto large trees. Large cats hunt them when cockatoos are flying low.
5. Human Hunters
Generally, hunters only catch them for illegal trade, but sometimes they kill cockatoos for food, pest control, or to acquire and illegally trade their gorgeous feathers.
Some indigenous tribes, like the Machiguenga tribe, hunt and eat cockatoos in the wild. Apart from them, some other indigenous tribes also eat cockatoos, but most don’t. However, many tribes capture and sell cockatoos to hunters and illegal traders.
Since cockatoos sell at a good cost, they easily grab illegal traders’ attention. On average, most cockatoos sell for around $1500-2000, but some rare species sell for as high as $17000. Similarly, their feathers also sell for high prices. This is why cockatoos attract local hunters and are prone to hunting.
Apart from being eaten and sold, cockatoos are also killed for pest control. Some farmers kill them for the protection of their crops. This happens because cockatoos raid crops and destroy them, and sadly the most convenient way some farmers see to protect their crops is by killing cockatoos.
Final Thoughts
Whether it be daylight or night, wild cockatoos are always endangered of being hunted. We can’t do much about saving cockatoos from being eaten in the forests. But we can take some steps to protect wild cockatoo populations in urban areas.
All the predators that hunt cockatoos for eating hunt them when cockatoos are easily exposed. This usually happens due to deforestation. Moreover, they eat cockatoos because they are an easy target and the predators can’t starve.
Planting more trees and providing alternative food sources to predator animals can probably help reduce cockatoo hunting.
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