Goffin's Cockatoo Conservation status: Lower Risk
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Psittaciformes Family: Cacatuidae Subfamily: Cacatuinae Genus: Cacatua Species: goffini
Binomial name
Cacatua goffini (Finsch, 1863)

The Goffin's Cockatoo or Tanimbar Cockatoo, Cacatua goffini, is a species of cockatoo native to Indonesia. Its body is covered in white feathers, with peachy colored feathers near its face and a yellowish tinge on its tail. They have brown eyes, each with a blue eyelid.

Like all members of the Cacatuidae, Goffin's Cockatoo is crested, meaning it has a collection of feathers on its head that it can raise or lower. In the raised state, the crest resembles a horn. The crest in this species is recumbent, meaning that when lowered, the crest blends in with the other head feathers, giving the impression that it does not exist.

They weigh, on average, about 350 grams and are about 31 centimeters from head to tail. Goffin's Cockatoos are the smallest of all Cacatuidae. Males and females are identical in appearance.

Wild populations of this bird are threatened due habitat loss and illegal trapping for the cage-bird trade.

Captive birds

They can learn to imitate human speech, but are in general very quiet. When they do make noise, it is very loud. They are known for their roaming and chewing habits.

As pets, they enjoy physical contact, especially having their head scratched. They are needy and loud, and should not be kept in apartments. Their personality resembles that of a dog.

Occasionally, captive birds of this species - like many cockatoos - develop self-destructive behaviors such as feather plucking.