Center for Avian Rehabilitation & Education

When someone comes in and they're considering adopting a cockatoo, we direct them to check out this website. Cockatoos are very difficult birds to live with because they can be very demanding and are quite different from other parrots. You sometimes only hear the good things about them -- how cuddly, intelligent, and funny (among other positive qualities) they are. And they can be wonderful! But we feel it's important for prospective cockatoo owners to get as much information as they can about these magnificent creatures to set themselves and the bird up for future success.

Last week we captured a video of Alex, a male wild-caught umbrella cockatoo, screaming. While it isn't normal for any parrot to continually scream, it is a natural way for them to express themselves, especially near sunrise and sunset (although it depends on the bird).