Many common misconceptions and myths have been linked with parrots. The misconceptions and myths have emerged in regard to bathing the cockatoo. You may have educated yourself in the study of the avian psyche, the avian quirks and habits that make our birds who and what they are. Through your education you can better understand the myths for what they are and the misconceptions for what they may be. Showering the cockatoo has its many myths and misconceptions and the focus of this article is to dispel some of the ideas we have assigned to this particular genus.
Cockatoos are certainly one of the most stunningly beautiful parrots after a good bath.
The plumage of the 'Toos is unique to them, with longer contour feathers when compared to other psittacines and broad primary and secondary flight feathers that make them the astounding fliers that they are. Keeping this gorgeous plumage in good order is a full-time occupation for the cockatoo and, without the ability to properly bathe, a cockatoo may tend to over preen the feathers which can lead to shredding, tearing, and eventually plucking out the feathers. If ignored, plucking of the feathers can manifest into tissue mutilation and in resultant infections of the skin. The geographic distribution of some of our most popular cockatoo species surprises some people when they realize that their species of cockatoo has genetically developed in areas outside of the continent of Australia. While Australia is quite renowned for its cockatoo flocks, the most commonly kept species of cockatoos in the United States may have never set one zygodactic foot on the soil of Australia in terms of evolutionary development.