Goffin's Cockatoo

• ExerciseVery high

  A high-energy flyer — serious daily flight time and enrichment are essential.

• GroomingRegular feather care

  Regular bathing or misting plus nail and beak checks.

• Living spaceStandard cage

  A proper cage and daily out-of-cage time fit fine in an apartment.

• Owner experienceFor experienced owners

  Rewards owners who know the ropes.

• Commitment40–60 years

  Plan for a long, loving relationship.

Health to watch: Feather plucking · Obesity · Respiratory issues

Goffin's Cockatoo (Cacatua goffiniana) is a small white cockatoo from the Tanimbar Islands of Indonesia, and one of the most scientifically celebrated parrots alive — captive Goffin's have spontaneously invented, shaped and used tools in laboratory studies. Pets weigh 250-300 g and live 40-60 years. That intelligence makes them relentless: Goffin's are master escape artists that undo cage latches, curious to a fault, and prone to boredom-driven screaming and plucking if under-stimulated. They are affectionate, active and playful, needing a keeper who treats mental enrichment as a daily duty rather than a bonus. Feed a pelleted base with vegetables, greens, sprouts and limited fruit and nuts to keep them lean. The cage must be genuinely lock-proof and packed with foraging puzzles, destructible toys and tasks to solve; combined with several hours of interaction and flight a day, this keeps the busy Goffin's mind occupied. Neglect that, and this brilliant little cockatoo will out-think its enclosure and turn its intelligence on its own feathers.

• How much activity does a Goffin's Cockatoo need?

  Very high. A high-energy flyer — serious daily flight time and enrichment are essential.

• How much feather care does a Goffin's Cockatoo need?

  Regular feather care. Regular bathing or misting plus nail and beak checks.

• What cage does a Goffin's Cockatoo need?

  Standard cage. A proper cage and daily out-of-cage time fit fine in an apartment.

• Is a Goffin's Cockatoo a good fit for first-time owners?

  For experienced owners. Rewards owners who know the ropes.

• How long do Goffin's Cockatoo live?

  40–60 years. Plan for a long, loving relationship.

• What health issues affect the Goffin's Cockatoo?

  Keep an eye out for Feather plucking, Obesity, Respiratory issues. These are worth raising with your vet, along with any screening they recommend.

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