It’s time to say good-bye to the loving but incredibly loud umbrella cockatoo as our Animal Of The Month for October. And if you’ve been following us on Twitter @ExoticPetVets we hope your ears will stop ringing very soon.  If you missed any of our tweets about these beautiful, affectionate birds, here is a summary. Did you know?:

• The umbrella cockatoo (Cacatua alba) is also known as the white cockatoo or the great white-crested cockatoo.
• The “alba” part of the umbrella cockatoo’s species name is the feminine form of albus in Latin which means white.
• Umbrella cockatoos are mostly white, with some yellow colouring underneath their wings and tails.
• Cockatoos have a crest of feathers on top of their heads that stand up when they’re excited or alarmed.
• Umbrella cockatoos are so-named because their crests are semi-circular and look like umbrellas when raised.
• In the wild, umbrella cockatoos live in the rainforests of the Indonesian islands.
• Umbrella cockatoos nest in the hollows of large trees and usually have two eggs in a clutch.
• Both female and male umbrella cockatoos take turns sitting on the eggs during the incubation period which is about 28 days.
• Umbrella cockatoos are considered to be one of the most good-natured and loving pet birds.
• But umbrella cockatoos are high maintenance, emotionally and physically, and need lots of attention.
• Umbrella cockatoos are prone to loud screaming if they don’t get their way or are isolated.
• Imagine living with a toddler for 60 years. That’s what it’s like to have a pet cockatoo. They’re not for everyone.
• Umbrella cockatoos are very sentimental birds and they have companions in the wild.
• In captivity, umbrella cockatoos can get attached to people, birds or objects. They also like to cuddle with people.
• While umbrella cockatoos are social and intelligent they can only mimic basic and limited human speech.
• Umbrella cockatoos love to dance and will bob their heads and kick their legs to the beat of the music.
• If feeling showy, umbrella cockatoos may spread their wings and raise their crests while dancing to music they enjoy.
• Umbrella cockatoos in captivity dislike being confined, especially in small spaces. They need lots of room.
• In terms of cages, the bigger the better for umbrella cockatoos.
• A cage for an umbrella cockatoo in captivity should be a minimum of 3 ft x 3 ft x 4 ft long (90 cm x 90 cm x 120 cm).
• Large cages that can withstand powerful beaks and have an open play area on top are best for cockatoos in captivity.
• Umbrella cockatoos have “X”-shaped feet, which help them with climbing and picking up objects.
• Umbrella cockatoos are so good at manipulating objects with their feet, they can even unscrew bolts.
• Many umbrella cockatoos will eat while holding their food in one foot.
• Umbrella cockatoos will favour either their right or left foot, much like people do with their hands.