A cockatoo of Indonesia’s northern Moluccan islands, with white plumage and a broad crest that opens like a fan.
The undersides of the wings and tail are tinged yellow. The bill and feet are dark grey.
A 2022–2023 survey in Kahatola village, Indonesia, recorded 16 White Cockatoos across five observation points. The counts were five, four, three, two, and two birds; the paper described their distribution as even across those five points. In interviews, residents described the cockatoos in forests with large trees, nesting in trunks. They said the birds ate fruits and seeds, including corn, coconut, banana, and rice, and were seen feeding, flying, and perching on dry branches.
Residents called the cockatoo “gatala,” a Ternate word described as referring to a yellowish-white bird. They also spoke of the White Cockatoo as a symbol of the Loloda Sultanate. Residents reported that its call around 1 a.m. once helped fishermen judge when to leave for work.
IUCN Red List status as reported by BirdLife International · Endangered (EN; reported by BirdLife International in 2021) · Global
In a 2021 article, BirdLife International reported the White Cockatoo as Endangered because of illegal trade.