Umbrella Cockatoo

The Umbrella Cockatoo, also known as the White Cockatoo, is a large parrot endemic to a limited group of islands in North Maluku, Indonesia. It takes its name from its distinctive broad, rounded crest, which opens into a wide fan-like shape when raised.

Appearance

Plumage is pure white throughout, with only a faint pale-yellow tinge sometimes visible on the underside of the wings and tail in good light. The crest consists of broad, recurved white feathers that lie flat along the crown when relaxed but spread into a dramatic circular fan during display or alarm. The bill is large, black, and strongly hooked, and the skin around the eye is pale bluish-white. Sexes look alike, though females often show a reddish-brown iris compared to the male's darker eye.

General Impression

Umbrella Cockatoos are large, striking white birds typically seen flying above the forest canopy or perched in the tops of tall trees in pairs or small groups.

Key Field Marks

• Entirely white plumage with little to no yellow tinge
• Broad, rounded crest that fans out umbrella-like
• Pale bluish-white bare skin around the eye
• Large black bill

Similar Species

• Sulphur-crested Cockatoo has a narrower, pointed yellow crest and a yellow wash under the wings, unlike the broader white crest of the Umbrella Cockatoo.
• Moluccan Cockatoo shows a salmon-pink tinge to its plumage and crest rather than pure white.
• Little Corella and Long-billed Corella are smaller with less prominent crests and bluish facial skin, but lack the large fan-shaped crest of this species.

The broad, rounded, purely white crest is the most reliable distinguishing feature.

Range

Endemic to a small number of islands in North Maluku, Indonesia, including Halmahera, Bacan, Ternate, Tidore, Kasiruta, and Mandioli.

Habitat

Inhabits lowland and hill tropical rainforest, forest edges, and secondary growth, generally at lower elevations.

Movements

Non-migratory and largely restricted to its native forest habitat, though local movements occur in search of fruiting trees.

Social Behavior

Usually found in pairs or small family groups, sometimes gathering in larger flocks at abundant fruiting trees or communal roosts.

Voice

Gives loud, raucous screeches and screams, particularly when disturbed or in flight, typical of large cockatoos.

Feeding

Forages in the forest canopy and understory for fruit, seeds, nuts, and berries, using its powerful bill to crack open tough shells and pods.

Nesting and Breeding

Nests in large hollows of tall forest trees. Clutches typically contain two eggs, incubated by both parents for around 28 to 30 days. Because it depends on old-growth forest for nesting cavities, ongoing habitat loss has significantly reduced suitable breeding sites.