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Project Noah Nature School
Cacatua moluccensis
At 50 cm, it is among the largest of the white cockatoos. The female is larger than the males on average. It has white-pink feathers with a definite peachy glow, a slight yellow on the underwing and underside of the tail feathers and a large retractable recumbent crest which it raises when threatened, revealing hitherto concealed bright red-orange plumes to frighten potential attackers (may also be raised in excitement, or other 'emotional' displays). Some describe the crest as "flamingo-colored." It also has one of the louder calls in the parrot world and in captivity is a capable mimic.
Spotted in Syon Park's Tropical Zoo - the zoo cares for abandoned or illegally obtained animals. Naturally, this cockatoo is endemic to south Moluccas in eastern Indonesia.
© Emma Simpson. All Rights Reserved.
Spotted on Feb 12, 2012
Submitted on Feb 20, 2012
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