(Cacatua moluccensis)

“Merlin” painting

Distribution: Moluccan Cockatoos are found in forests and woodlands in the southern Moluccan Islands of Indonesia.

Size: Moluccan Cockatoos range from 18-22 inches long and weigh around 2 pounds.

Diet: Seeds, nuts, fruits, berries and some insects make up the Moluccan’s diet.

Lifespan: Cockatoos can live for more than 50 years in the wild.

Reproduction: Incubation of two eggs, by both male and female cockatoo, lasts 28 days. Fledging occurs around 14 weeks of age, but the young still depend on parents for food and protection for several more weeks.

Did You Know?

• Moluccan Cockatoos have been such a popular pet that they are now endangered in the wild (listed on CITES in 1989). It is prohibited to trade wild individuals.

• Native Indonesians tend to consider cockatoos pests because of their destructive habits in coconut plantations.