Sulphur-crested Cockatoo as a pet

Cacatua galerita

In short

This species may suit you if you can live with noise level ‘very loud’, have room for an enclosure in class ‘large’ and can care for the bird for even longer than 40 years [S8, S21]. Biggest trade-off: according to the sources, not a species for beginners [S8]. The perfect parrot doesn’t exist: a species profile is no guarantee about your bird.

This information was compiled with AI from public sources and may contain errors. Always check legal rules with the competent authority. Not buying, veterinary or legal advice.

Talking

Sometimes a few words. [S8]

Noise

Flanders: ‘one of the loudest parrots’ (group; translated from Dutch) [S8].

Lifespan

Some cockatoo species over 80 years (group) [S8].

Space

Flanders: larger cockatoo species (e.g. white cockatoo) at least 500 × 200 × 240 cm [S8]; Swiss law (for comparison; does not apply in Belgium) 10 m² / 30 m³ per pair [S21].

Suitable for beginners?

Flanders: for advanced keepers [S8].

Costs

From €300 per year per bird. Vlaanderen — Huisdierwijzer Kaketoes: about €25 per month × 12 [S8]. Price level unknown; not a full budget or quote.

Paperwork and rules in Belgium

EU Annex B (CITES II). Ask the seller for proof of legal origin (invoice, transfer declaration; EU model recommended) and keep it [S40]. According to the FPS, anyone who buys, sells or breeds these birds keeps a register of arrivals and departures and keeps it for at least 5 years [S39]. Status as of 24 September 2026; check the current rules for your bird with the Belgian FPS Public Health [S39].

Adoption and availability

Nally's lists ‘sulphur-crested’ cockatoos; which species was not checked [S70].

What you have to accept

According to the sources, not a species for beginners [S8].
Noise class ‘very loud’: only choose this species if your home situation can handle it [S8].
Lifespan: according to the sources this species can live longer than 40 years; plan who will care for it if your life changes [S8].
Space class ‘large’: the guideline sizes call for a spacious aviary [S8, S21].

Compare with

Galah (same source group): quieter according to the sources (‘loud’ versus ‘very loud’) [S8, S57].
Galah · Compare with Galah
Goffin's Cockatoo (same source group): quieter according to the sources (‘loud’ versus ‘very loud’), shorter commitment (‘up to about 40 years’); but more paperwork (EU Annex A) [S8, S39, S40, S58].
Goffin's Cockatoo · Compare with Goffin's Cockatoo
Blue-and-yellow Macaw: a similar profile on the known criteria.
Blue-and-yellow Macaw · Compare with Blue-and-yellow Macaw

Source basis

Cockatoo group knowledge

Guideline sizes, costs and adoption listings come from Flemish sources; different rules may apply in Brussels and Wallonia. Foreign housing rules are not Belgian rules.

Sources

S8 · Vlaanderen — Huisdierwijzer Kaketoes · read 2026-09-06; opnieuw 2026-09-19 (maten, kosten, aantal)
S21 · BLV — Papageien im Tierschutzrecht · read 2026-09-11
S39 · FOD Volksgezondheid — CITES-regels: Papegaaien · read 2026-09-24
S40 · FOD Volksgezondheid — Beschermde soorten bezitten · read 2026-09-19
S57 · Wikipedia — Galah · read 2026-09-19
S58 · Wikipedia — Tanimbar corella · read 2026-09-19
S70 · adopteereendier.be (Vlaamse overheid) — asielpagina Nally's Papegaaien Opvang · read 2026-09-19

Sources checked as of: 2026-09-24