Cockatoo (Moluccan)

The Moluccan cockatoo is one of the most striking members of the cockatoo family, both in appearance and intelligence. The most distinctive features of the Moluccan are its large size and bright salmon-pink coloration of the head-crest feathers.

The Moluccan is the largest of the white cockatoos, with the female larger than the male on average. It has white-pink feathers with a definite peachy glow, a slight yellow on the under wing and underside of the tail feathers and a large retractable recumbent crest which it raises when threatened, revealing concealed bright red-orange plumes to frighten potential attackers (may also be raised in excitement or other 'emotional' displays). It has heavy, white powder-down on the feathers and is sexually dimorphic by iris coloration. As they get older the iris of the females' eyes will develop a brownish color, the males' eyes will remain black
It also has one of the louder calls in the parrot world and in captivity is a capable mimic.

 

Photographed at Ardastra Zoo, Nassau Bahamas