Cockatoos scream to express their feelings. You might have sometimes noticed they scream very loud, and at other times they scream less. The body language of cockatoos explains a lot about why they scream and what they are trying to express.
Yes, Most of the time, cockatoos scream when they are bored and are trying to get attention. This is common with tame cockatoos. Besides boredom, they scream when they feel threatened or they are excited. Cockatoos do not always need a reason to scream; they can also scream for absolutely no reason.
Reasons Behind Cockatoo Screams
Let’s discuss all the reasons why cockatoos scream.
Frustration And Boredom
Cockatoos are very playful and social birds; they cannot endure frustration and boredom. They scream when they are bored. They also scream if they are stressed because of the environment, food, or abusive behavior of the owner.
Scolding or punishing a screaming cockatoo negatively reinforces its behavior. In response, it screams more forcefully.
Attention Seeking
A cockatoo may scream when he wants to grab his owner’s attention. If the owner and the cockatoo are sitting in the same room, and the owner is not giving him attention, the cockatoo screams to get attention. This is his way of expressing his feelings that he wants to play with the owner.
Sometimes cockatoos scream just for entertainment, and If the owner responds to their scream, they become habitual of screaming.
Separation Anxiety
Cockatoos also scream when they are lonely. This behavior is common in cockatoos separated from a flock or a companion cockatoo they have lived with. They do not want to be alone, as they bond strongly with their flock and owner. [1]
Self-defense or aggression
If a cockatoo feels insecure, it protects itself by screaming. This is a way of scaring and warning the intruder about what is coming next. If the cockatoo is still approached and forcefully touched or his territory is crossed, he can attack the intruder.
This intruder could be another bird or even the owner. Even a pet cockatoo can sometimes get aggressive if it is in heat or disturbed. By the way, cockatoo bites are very strong and can be dangerous.
Happiness and Excitement
They show great excitement by screaming when they are happy. But the screams are a bit different when they are happy. It feels like they are laughing, and there is a gap between each scream. They also shake their body and flap their wings. Cockatoos’ screams, from joy, are rhythmically like they are singing songs.
Alarming Situations
They scream like a warning alarm when they see something strange, or they are under attack. Usually, cockatoos raise their crest and scream when they see cats around them or when some stranger steps into the house. A cockatoo’s scream is an indication of anxiety and stress.
Contact Call
Since cockatoos can recognize other cockatoos with their voice, it helps them identify others and connect with them. In the wild, cockatoos scream when the flock leaves them behind or they are lost. These screams help them connect with the flock. Moreover, single cockatoos also scream to connect with other gender and form pairs.
Natural Instinct
Screaming is a natural behavior of cockatoos; they do not always need a reason to scream. Screaming in the morning and before sleep is a routine for them. Even if they are satisfied with the environment and food, they sometimes scream, which is absolutely normal.
Steps to Stop Cockatoos From Screaming
Following are some ways to stop cockatoos from screaming.
- Ignore his screams, don’t respond to them.
- Maintain his routine, and keep him busy all day.
- Provide him with toys to play with.
- Divert his attention whenever he screams while playing with you.
- Place his cage in a crowded place, somewhere he can always interact with someone.
- Give him proper time every day.
- If he screams at a particular time, observe his surroundings and look for the reasons.
Final Thoughts
Cockatoos scream for several reasons, most of which are associated with loneliness and boredom. Make sure you keep your cockatoo busy and happy all the time. Follow the instructions shared in this article, and your cockatoo will eventually stop screaming. Happy cockatoo keeping!
Thanks for the information Bilal. We live in West Hollywood, CA & live in rather close proximity to one another – Our neighbor has had a Cockatoo who screams & howls daily – He puts the bird out in a cage beginning @ 9:00 am daily, we have advised him for years of the noise, the rudeness, the compromise to one’s living space, etc. I’m rather sure the noise ordinance’s in our city disallow this entitlement – Any ideas how better to handle as I can’t take business calls, our daily life while home is completely unsettled & we can no longer co-exist with this bird.
Hi Robert, I understand how annoying cockatoo screams can sometimes be. Unfortunately, there is not much you can do about it. It is the owner who has to help the bird stop screaming.
Hi Balil
We have a 22 year old cockatoo we adopted from a rescue in January. Daisy is sweet, loving and amazing in every area except the screaming. I work from home and let her out every morning. She has a huge mansion with a ton of toys but the only thing she cares about is being held. I will even put her on a perch next to me while I work. Even there if I am not holding her she screams. She screams constantly to be held. I try and ignore it to show that behavior is not what gets her held but she still does it. It is really affecting my work. Any advise?
Hey Brandee, Cockatoos are attention-seekers, if they are raised like babies, given a lot of attention and they don’t have a mate to play with, they scream if left alone or not given attention. If possible, get her a mate!