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Citron-crested cockatoo

Cacatua sulphurea citrinocristata


It is a subspecies of the lesser sulpher-crested cockatoo.

This large, white parrot has a yellow crest, yellow-orange check patch and yellow feathers under the wing and tail. The average citron-crested cockatoo can be up to 50cm long and can weigh up to 450 grams.

Citron-crested cockatoos are one of the rarest species of cockatoos in the world. They can only be found on the island of Sumba, in Indonesia. In 1992, Indonesia enacted a total ban on the trade of these birds whose population has heavily impacted by the pet trade.

IUCN Status

The IUCN status of the Citron-crested cockatoo is critically endangered.

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For more info on classifications visit www.iucnredlist.org (link opens in new window).

Animal class

Bird

Conservation status

The IUCN believes that the citron-crested cockatoo faces a very high risk of extinction in the wild. They are listed in Appendix I of CITES.

Habitat

Forest and grasslands

Population

The population of the citron-crested cockatoo has declined rapidly over the past three decades by a staggering 80 per cent.

Diet

Herbivore. Citron-crested cockatoos eat seeds, nuts, berries and fruits.