Moluccan Cockatoo

The Moluccan Cockatoo, also known as the Salmon-crested Cockatoo, is a large parrot endemic to the island of Seram and nearby smaller islands in the Moluccas of Indonesia. It is well known for its soft pink-tinged plumage and dramatic crest.

Appearance

The body plumage is mostly white with a distinct salmon-pink wash, particularly visible on the crest, face, and underparts, becoming more pronounced under the wings and tail. The crest is composed of long, broad feathers ranging from pale pink to deep salmon-orange, which fan upward and forward when raised. The bill is large, black, and heavy, and bare skin around the eye is pale bluish-white.

General Impression

Among the largest of the white cockatoos, the Moluccan Cockatoo has a soft, warm-toned appearance in good light that distinguishes it from purely white relatives, and it is often seen in pairs moving through the forest canopy.

Key Field Marks

• Large cockatoo with white plumage strongly washed in salmon-pink
• Salmon to deep orange-pink crest, fanned when displaying
• Large black bill
• Pale bluish-white bare skin around the eye

Similar Species

• Umbrella Cockatoo is purely white with little to no pink tinge and a broader, rounder white crest.
• Sulphur-crested Cockatoo has a narrow yellow (not pink) crest and a yellow wash under the wings.
• Galah shows much deeper rose-pink underparts and a contrasting grey back, unlike the mostly white-and-salmon Moluccan Cockatoo.

The warm salmon-pink tone, especially visible in the crest and underwing, is the best identifying feature.

Range

Endemic to Seram and a few adjacent smaller islands in the Moluccas (Maluku) region of Indonesia.

Habitat

Inhabits lowland and hill tropical rainforest, generally below about 1,000 meters elevation, favoring primary and tall secondary forest.

Movements

Non-migratory; restricted to forested habitat on its native islands, with local movements tracking fruiting trees.

Social Behavior

Typically seen in pairs or small groups, occasionally gathering in larger numbers at fruiting trees or communal roosts.

Voice

Gives loud, far-carrying screeches and screams typical of large cockatoos, especially in flight or when alarmed.

Feeding

Feeds on fruit, nuts, seeds, and berries gathered from the forest canopy, using its powerful bill to open hard-shelled foods.

Nesting and Breeding

Nests in large hollows of tall, mature forest trees, a resource made scarcer by logging. Clutches typically contain two eggs, incubated by both parents for around 28 to 30 days. Because of its dependence on undisturbed forest and past heavy trapping for the pet trade, wild populations have declined substantially.