An Introduction to the Rose-Breasted Cockatoo
By Terri Ann King
Photograph by Joan Balzarini

In Australia, the rose-breasted cockatoo, Eolophus roseicapillus, is as common as a pigeon in Central Park. "Rosies," as they are called down under, are pests at times, chopping through communications wiring with their curious beaks and attacking freshly harvested crops to satisfy their hunger. Yet, for all of their problematic behaviors, these beautiful, plentiful pink cockatoos continue to captivate many Australians who keep them as household pets - placing them in the position of being both loved and loathed in their own homeland. At least for now, exportation of these common birds is limited, although they remain on the list of pests that can be shot or otherwise eliminated.

Because of limited exportation, rose-breasted cockatoos, also commonly referred to as galahs, are far less plentiful in America. Although American aviculturists have long-recognized the rosie as a wonderful aviary bird, its status as a companion parrot is relatively new to American bird enthusiasts. That, however, is gradually changing. Capable breeders, rosies are growing more common in the United States, and Americans, like Australians, are becoming captivated by the bird's beautiful pink-and-gray markings. The birds speak remarkably well for cockatoos and often perform endearing, clown-like antics, adding to their appeal. As breeding programs continue, the rosie's availability and popularity in the United States seems destined to increase.

The rosie is not the perfect bird for everyone. Though sociable, they can be aloof at times. Before rushing out to purchase a rose-breasted cockatoo as a companion bird, the prospective owner should learn the good and bad about these interesting creatures.

Life Stages

Rose-breasted cockatoos start life much less colorful than they end it. A newborn rosie somewhat resembles a gray-speckled trout, with only a hint of the trademark pink breast. Much like other infant cockatoos, baby rosies tend to be clumsy, but they have a habit of fluffing the feathers around their beak, forming a deliciously appealing "fat face" that few owners can resist.

As juveniles, rosies slowly develop their coloring. During this time, the bird's agility becomes evident, especially in flight. More often, though, the juvenile rosie takes to the ground to explore its surroundings in a humorous, waddling gait. This is a habit the rosie maintains throughout its life, for the bird appears to enjoy walking almost as much as flying. In Australia flocks of rose-breasted cockatoos are often seen walking along on the ground, eating grains as they waddle through a field or meadow.

The mature rosie has a stately look and an appealing nature. By now the bird's breast and legs are a brilliant shade of rose-pink. The forehead is white, with traces of pink, while the rest of the body and the tail feathers are gray in varying shades. Male and female birds are very similar, with the hens distinguished only by their brighter, pinkish-red irides.

Rosies as Companion Parrots

Many cockatoos are regarded as gentle, social birds, but rosies generally don't share that same reputation. This does not mean that the rose-breasted cockatoo can't be a sociable avian companion. It can be, although it usually defines the level of companionship on its own terms. Rosies want to be cuddled on their terms, and can change their minds quickly. Even hand-raised rosies often have a wide independent streak that can be off-putting.

What they lack in cuddliness they more than make up for in other methods of social interaction. Rosies enjoy the presence of humans and can sit happily on a perch in the same room with their owners for hours. They are also very verbal and will often respond to human speech with either squawks or words. This is indicative of the fact that, although they may not want to be held, they definitely crave and enjoy ongoing social interaction. It is important for owners of these birds to be aware of the extent of their social needs. Rosies may not want to cuddle often, but they always want to be around humans, other animals or both. Independent creatures they may be, but they are not anti-social.

Young rosies have an inclination to use their beak more often than other cockatoos - they have been described as "nippy" by more than one owner. This behavior can be frustrating for the first-time owner. The nipping appears to be the bird's means of expressing itself and exploring its surroundings, rather than an act of frustration or plea for attention. This nipping begins in infancy and increases during the juvenile stage as the birds gain confidence and explore their surroundings with their beak.

The rosie's nipping can be controlled, to a certain extent, by practicing behavior modification techniques during the juvenile stage. The most effective method is to remain emotionless when a rosie is nipping, passively ignoring the behavior, and to recognize the patterns that the nipping takes so that these situations can be avoided. An intelligent, sensitive bird, the rosie generally responds well to training. Rather than be discouraged by the rosie's undesirable behavior, the conscientious owner should try to modify it - there is a good chance the results will be favorable.

Housing

Rosies love to explore their cage and they have a unique habit of walking on the cage floor. A rosie's cage should be as large as possible, even if you are housing one pet. The floor should be barred so that the bird is kept away from the food and droppings below. This tendency to explore and walk on cage floors means it is extremely important that the floor bars be kept cleaned and sanitized.

Because rosies are extremely intelligent, they require a great deal of activity to keep their active minds engaged. They do not have to be constantly entertained by a human caregiver, but they should be provided a cage well-stocked with things to keep them occupied. Rosies that are not supplied with toys and other diversions can develop bad habits such as feather picking. Rosies are not notorious screamers, but they can raise quite a fuss in the act of having fun. They are happiest when they have plenty of "work" - interactive or puzzle-type toys and treat dispensers in the cage work wonders at keeping them healthy and happy.

Rosies are strong, agile flyers and have a huge wing span for their size. Even birds with clipped wings can fly through the house, effectively negotiating corners and navigating hallways. Owners should keep a watchful eye on rosies when they are out of their cage.

Care and Grooming

Rosies are voracious eaters, consuming almost anything and everything. Even when hand-fed as babies, they will grab for the syringe with wild abandon, obviously enjoying every bite. Because rosies have a tendency to indulge, it is important to limit the amount of fattening foods, including seeds, that you serve. Instead you should offer vegetables, fruits and pellets, with seeds as an occasional treat. Rosies typically are not picky and seem to enjoy almost all other kinds of foods just as much as any type of seed.

The rosies' grooming requirements are similar to other types of cockatoos. They give off a fine dusty powder that most owners will notice immediately because it covers furniture like a light snowfall every time the birds flap their wings. Rosies don't seem to make as much of a dander mess as some of the larger cockatoos. This dander can be greatly reduced by spraying the birds daily with a spray bottle of water. In fact, rosies seem to love a good spray bath, although a hand-raised baby may take a while to get used to the process. The owner should gradually expose the new rosie to the bathing process and then figure out what works best. A good bath not only keeps the dust down, it also seems to relax the rosie and encourages preening behaviors.

It is important to train rosies from the start to handle routine changes and to become familiar with new environments. Many rosies have a tendency to become shy and timid if not exposed to change. Some avian experts go so far as to call the rosie "phobic." Although rosies can be timid and uncomfortable when their routine changes, constantly exposing young birds to new environments can limit this behavior. It should be remembered that rosies must be handled delicately when transported. A good idea is to take a cloth or blanket when traveling with your bird. If confronted with a disturbance or disruption, simply cover the cage with the blanket to give the bird a feeling of security. Remember that rosies are naturally curious and love to experience new things, but the experience must be conducted in a sensitive and caring way.

Breeding

Rosies can usually be bred quite successfully and generally make wonderful parents. Many cockatoos tend to become independent and aloof toward humans after breeding. But according to many people who breed rosies, the birds remain calm and loyal toward their human companions, even after becoming parents. In fact, this appears to be one area where the rosie's lack of physical intimacy can be a benefit - because the rosie has not initiated cuddling, there are less hurt feelings when the bird inevitably turns its attention toward its new children.

The Silver Lining

No one ever said that living with a rosie was easy. Rosies can be both fiery and independent and sweet and loving. They can appear to be moody and nippy one minute and content and gentle the next. Rosies will lead you to believe emphatically that they don't like to be touched, and just when you are finally convinced, they will lift up a foot and tell you how much they love you. In fact, just when you think you understand rosies completely, you realize that you don't know them at all.

To a large extent, this contradictory behavior is precisely what makes the rosie so special. It is a study in contrasts, and each person must decide if keeping a rose-breasted cockatoo as a companion parrot is in the best interest of both the bird and the person. When you take on a rosie as a companion parrot, you will probably like it one minute and have your doubts the next. When these feisty cockatoos decide to give a human companion a chance at being their friend, there is nothing contradictory about it - they are loyal companions for life. Understanding a rosie is not always easy, but having one as a companion parrot can be a special, rewarding experience.

Terri Ann King is a member of the International Conure Association, the American Federation of Aviculture and the Arizona Seed Crackers Society. She is currently designing a non-credit college course in avian sociology. She and her husband reside in Arizona with their two cockatoos, two conures and a Chihuahua.