Yellow-crested Cockatoo
CR

Yellow-crested Cockatoo

Cacatua sulphurea

Declining

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow-crested_cockatoo

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Yellow-crested Cockatoo faces catastrophic population decline primarily due to intensive trapping for the illegal pet trade, which has devastated wild populations across its range. Habitat destruction through deforestation and agricultural conversion has eliminated critical nesting sites and food sources. The species' naturally fragmented distribution across small Indonesian islands makes populations particularly vulnerable to local extinctions, with several island populations already extirpated.

Threat summary

Habitat

Yellow-crested Cockatoos inhabit tropical lowland and hill forests, forest edges, and cultivated areas with large trees across Indonesian islands. They require mature trees with suitable cavities for nesting and prefer areas with abundant fruit trees and palm groves for foraging.

Forest· majorSavanna· majorShrubland· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionHabitat & natural process restorationSpecies managementSpecies recoveryAwareness & communicationsLegislationPolicies and regulationsCompliance and enforcementLinked enterprises & livelihood alternatives

Other threatened species in CACATUIDAE

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Calyptorhynchus lathami

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White CockatooEN

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Citron-crested CockatooCR

Citron-crested Cockatoo

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Baudin's Black-cockatooCR

Baudin's Black-cockatoo

Zanda baudinii

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Threatened in China

VU

Copper Shark

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Golden Vietnamese Cypress

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VU

Dragon Spruce

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Declining
VU

Likiang Spruce

Picea likiangensis

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Yellow-crested Cockatoo classified as Critically Endangered?
Yellow-crested Cockatoo is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Yellow-crested Cockatoo faces catastrophic population decline primarily due to intensive trapping for the illegal pet trade, which has devastated wild populations across its range. Habitat destruction through deforestation and agricultural conversion has eliminated critical nesting sites and food sources. The species' naturally fragmented distribution across small Indonesian islands makes populations particularly vulnerable to local extinctions, with several island populations already extirpated.
Where does Yellow-crested Cockatoo live?
Yellow-crested Cockatoo occurs in China, Hong Kong SAR China, Indonesia, Singapore, and Timor-Leste. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Yellow-crested Cockatoo?
The main threats to Yellow-crested Cockatoo are 2.1, 5.1, 5.1.1, and 5.3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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