The mostly white bare-eyed cockatoo is one of the smaller members of the cockatoo family, making it somewhat easier to keep and care for. This beautiful, affectionate and fun-loving bird is commonly referred to as ‘Little Corella’. Many bird enthusiasts keep the Bare-Eyed Cockatoo as a pet because this bird is less demanding than most other cockatoos and a bit more on the independent side.
While the Little Corella isn’t the most colorful parrot in the world, it makes up for its plain looks with a big personality. This bird is clever, sweet, playful and one of the best talking cockatoos to be kept as pets.
species overview
| Common Name: | Little Corella, Short-billed Corella, Blood-eyed Cockatoo, Blood-stained Cockatoo |
| scientific name: | cockatoo sanguine |
| size adult: | 15-16 inches tall |
| Life expectancy: | 50 years |
Origin and History
The Bare-Eyed Cockatoo is native to the southern parts of Australia and New Guinea. The first known description of this bird was by an English ornithologist in 1843. This white parrot is not found in densely forested areas as it prefers to live in coastal plains and dry deserts.
These white cockatoos are also found in agricultural areas and urban areas. There are so many Bare-Eyed Cockatoos in Australia that they are considered a nuisance by many.
Since long ago, Bare-Eyed Cockatoos have been a part of Aboriginal culture. Tribes keep these birds as pets, hunt them for food, and use their feathers for head decorations.
Mood
If you’re looking for a pet bird that’s a real charmer, you’ll love having a Bare-Eyed Cockatoo. This bird is intelligent, highly energetic and a bird that likes to clown around. This bird likes nothing more than to play around, exercise its strong beak and be silly. When you own a Little Corella, the bird will spend its time either chatting and playing on the storm or being calm and affectionate.
Often described as the most mentally stable cockatoo, the Little Corella is a very social bird that loves to play and interact with its owner. These birds are so social that they crave interaction with their owners. If they feel neglected, they may resort to destructive behavior. This is why you should make sure you have enough time available to spend with your new bird before bringing home a bare-eyed cockatoo.
Without a doubt, the Little Corella makes the perfect bird companion for anyone who wants a bird that is full of personality and fun!professionals
- Less demanding and noisy than other cockatoos
- A funny bird that can easily learn to talk
- long life span
Shortcoming
- Can be very destructive with a tendency to chew
- May be repeated with imitative speech that may prove to be disturbing
Speech and Vocalization
Like all cockatoos, the bare-eyed cockatoo loves to make noises. However, the Little Corella is less talkative than other cockatoos, although they can be loud and repetitive. This bird is famous for its ability to imitate human speech. People who keep these birds enjoy how they mimic what is being said and do it in an incredibly silly way.
Once a Bare-Eyed Cockatoo has learned a new word or phrase, he may repeat it aloud over and over, which can be annoying and cause some stress. Because these birds are loud and chatty, they are not great apartment dwellers because they can easily annoy neighbors.
Bare-eyed Cockatoo Colors and Markings
The Bare-Eyed Cockatoo is predominantly white with a salmon-pink touch to its face. This bird has a horn colored beak. Some bare-eyed cockatoos are pale brown on the underwings and tails, while others may have yellow spots under the ears.
The bird gets its name from the rings around the eyes which are bluish-gray in colour. The distinctive puffy eye rings make Little Corella look like it missed more than a few sleepless nights. The bird’s scientific name ‘Cacatua sanguinea’ means “blood-stained cockatoo” which is related to the pinkish markings between the eyes and beak that look like spots of blood.
bare eyed cockatoo care
As a social bird, the bare-eyed cockatoo craves companionship. While this bird can be kept alone, it will be at its happiest life with another bare-eyed cockatoo. If possible, get a pair of Little Corellas because a human cannot provide the same level of stimulation needed to keep this bird happy and healthy.
This bird, like other cockatoos, can benefit from weekly baths. Some little Corellas enjoy splashing in the tub and under the tap while others enjoy being smuggled out of a water bottle. You can also give this bird a shallow pot of water to bathe in. If your bare-eyed cockatoo isn’t with another bird, it will need some help hunting it. Spend some time lightly scratching the top of your bird’s head and neck in the direction of the feathers. You can trim the bird’s feathers to discourage flight and to prevent it from escaping through an open window or door. If you don’t get spoiled by climbing and chewing, you’ll need to trim the bird’s claws.
Bare-eyed cockatoos are exceptionally playful so it is essential to provide your bird with many bird toys. If the bird gets bored, it is prone to destroying things and plucking its feathers, so keep your feathered friend occupied.
It would be beneficial to have a playground or additional enclosure for the Little Corella. To keep your bird psychologically happy, the play area/fencing should have lots of climbing branches, bird ladders, swings, ropes and fresh branches for chewing and munching on.
common health problems
Blue-eyed cockatoos are generally very strong, healthy birds. However, like other cockatoos,Little Corellas are susceptible to certain health problems including:
Fatty Tumors: Common in overweight cockatoos, a fatty tumor called a lipoma can develop on this bird’s ovaries, testicles or kidneys. This bird may also have tumors called fibromas on its feathers that may need to be surgically removed.
Psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD) : This is a contagious virus sometimes referred to as “bird AIDS”. Cockatoos can become infected with PBFD through the mouth, nose, and cloaca. This virus is shed in feces, crop and feather dust.
It is also common for bare-eyed cockatoos to suffer from nutritional deficiencies. This can happen if the bird is not fed properly. The good news is that nutritional deficiencies can be prevented with vitamin supplements or by adding more fruits, vegetables and high-quality pellets to the bird’s diet. When these cockatoos are not given enough attention and interaction with their owners, the biggest problems these cockatoos face are general restlessness and behavioral problems.
diet and nutrition
In the wild, bare-eyed cockatoos feed mainly on the ground but occasionally in trees and shrubs. These birds enjoy eating a variety of seeds, insects, fruits and nectar. When kept in captivity, things are different.
A pet Blue-Eyed Cockatoo should be provided with a high quality pellet diet. This bird should also be fed a variety of fresh vegetables and fruits every day. It’s okay to give Little Corella a handful from time to time, like a handful of walnuts or almonds. However, these nuts have a high fat content, so don’t overdo it!
Every day, feed your bare-eyed cockatoo a quarter cup of pellets and the same amount of chopped fruits and vegetables. If your bird is still hungry after feeding time, you can gradually increase the quantity as needed.
Do not feed avocado or chocolate to your bare-eyed cockatoo as these items are toxic to birds. Of course, you will need to provide plenty of fresh drinking water to keep your bird well hydrated.
exercise
Like other pet birds, the bare-eyed cockatoo needs plenty of exercise. This bird also needs to spread its wings from time to time, so make sure you get a cage that provides the bird with plenty of room. When it comes to cage size for a smaller Corella, bigger is better. When your cockatoo is kept in a large cage, it can spread its wings without touching the bars and will have plenty of room to climb ladders, swing on ropes, and play with bird toys.
As mentioned above, exercise and play are the keys to your bird’s physical and psychological health. A clear sign that your bare-eyed cockatoo is getting too much exercise is when he spends most of his time performing, playing with toys inside the cage, and inventing fun new games.
Where to get or buy a bare-eyed cockatoo?
Because Bare-Eyed Cockatoos are abundant and popular birds to keep as pets, it is easy to find these birds for sale or adoption. Look for a breeder in your area or visit your local pet store to see if one is available. It is always best to buy a Bare-Eyed Cockatoo from a reputable breeder who has experience raising these wonderful birds.
Make sure the bird you want to adopt or buy is healthy, active and alert. Don’t neglect to ask the seller any questions you may have about the bird’s general health and background. Ultimately, you may want to buy or adopt a small Corella who will live a long, healthy life.
conclusion
The Bare-Eyed Cockatoo may not be the most colorful cockatoo in the world, but this bird is full of charm and quirk. It is best to get a pair of these birds as Blue-Eyed Cockatoos enjoy companionship.
When you welcome Little Corella into your home, you will have a friend for a lifetime who will give you lots of reasons to smile and laugh. These are very playful birds that get along easily with people.