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'''Cockatoo''' refers to the twenty-one species of [[parrot]]-like birds in the family Cacatuidae, immediately characterized from other parrots by the presence of a flamboyant crest on the tops of their heads. Found in [[Australia]] and nearby island countries, cockatoos are at once familiar cage birds or agricultural pests; both have severely impacted the numbers of several species, and caused Australia to pass legislation barring exportation.
'''Cockatoo''' refers to the twenty-one species of [[parrot]]-like birds in the family Cacatuidae, immediately characterized from other parrots by the presence of a flamboyant crest on the tops of their heads. Found in [[Australia]] and nearby island countries, cockatoos are at once familiar cage birds or agricultural pests; both have severely impacted the numbers of several species, and caused Australia to pass legislation barring exportation.
==Description==
Most species of cockatoo are medium-sized birds, with an average length of 15-18 inches. The smallest is the cockatiel (''Nymphicus hollandicus''), which is 13 inches in length, while the palm cockatoo (''Probosciger aterrimus'') at 24 inches is nearly equal in size with the largest [[macaw]]s. With the exception of the cockatiel, all cockatoos have a short, blunt tail.
All cockatoo species bear a crest on their heads. The crest is raised if the bird is excited or threatened, and in some species it is a display of a contrasting color to their overall plumage.
Cockatoos have an upright stance when perched; when not flying they move about in the trees using their hooked beak as a climbing aid. On the ground they walk with a rolling gate. Both feet are zygodactyl, i.e. two toes in front, two toes behind, a trait shared with [[owl]]s and [[woodpecker]]s. Cockatoos further use one foot as a "hand" to hold and bring food to its mouth.
Cockatoo plumage differs from other parrots in that the feathers do not contain the brilliant colors caused by ''psittacofulvins''<ref>http://creation.com/parrot-fashion</ref>. The various species have as their base plumage either black, white, or pink as the main color; contrasting colors, such as red or yellow are either part of the facial skin or the crest.
===Phylogeny===
===Phylogeny===
:Subfamily Nymphicinae
:Subfamily Nymphicinae
:::Genus ''Nymphicus''
:::Genus ''Nymphicus''
::::[[Cockatiel]], ''Nymphicus hollandicus
::::[[Cockatiel]], ''Nymphicus hollandicus''
==References==
<small><references/></small>
[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Parrots]]
[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Parrots]]