Most Cockatoos are left handed?

BillsBirds

Well-known member
Jan 9, 2012
1,371
40
Largo, Florida
Parrots
Timneh African Grey (Bailey), Lovebird (Elvis)
I was talking to a friend who knows a lot about 'toos, and she told me that most cockatoos are left handed. That they hold onto the perch with their right foot, and grasp food, toys, etc. with their left. Cockatiels also. Have 'too guardians here noticed the same thing? How about 'tiels? I've watched my Beasley today, and she does hold things with her left foot. I've cared for a few cockatoos, but, don't remember noticing that.
 
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forbey

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Apr 26, 2013
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Cockatoos don't have hands. If they did they would be on the ends of their wings. That would make those things with the claws on the end of them ... feet! :)

I'm sure birds, like any other animal, including humans can be prone to preferring one foot over the next. Not sure if anyone has actually studied communal groupings of left verses right clawed preferences.
 

SandyBee

New member
Oct 5, 2012
1,455
1
Coquitlam BC, Canada
Parrots
DYH Amazon-Rescue- Bosley (36),
African Brown head-Rescue- August(9)
They say most parrots are left footed! google it, there has been studies done.
 

MonicaMc

Well-known member
Sep 12, 2012
7,960
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Mitred Conure - Charlie 1994;
Cockatiel - Casey 2001;
Wild Caught ARN - Sylphie 2013
Let's see what photos I might have....


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Is that sufficient?
 

ruffledfeathers

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Aug 23, 2012
1,970
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NJ
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Gilbert Oliver, Blue Crown Conure; Georgie, Sun Conure (2/8/01-8/8/12) RIP little girl; Percy, budgie 1993-1999. RIP Pepito-spanish timbrado canary
Yup, i thought that was a general "fact", like my being right handed. :) Gilly almost always holds things in his left foot.
 

Nocturnal

New member
May 15, 2013
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A secret place
Parrots
||Mika, 23 yo senegal parrot||Cayenne, 5 yo sun conure||Katana, 6 yo cockatiel||Monk, 4 yo peachfaced lovie||Onyx, 8 yo BH caique||Pluto & Neptune, 4 yo budgies||Tauntaun, 17 yo U2||
I've noticed all my parrots in general are "left-handed". They eat food with their left foot the most often.

Hey, just like me! xD
 

Kong

New member
Jan 18, 2013
12
0
Maine
Parrots
Moluccan Cockatoo
You can add Kong to the left foot club i am watching him now toy in left foot eating and when he is relaxed his right foot is tucked up :)
 

MikeyTN

New member
Feb 1, 2011
13,296
17
Antioch, TN
Parrots
"Willie"&"Lola"B&G Macaw,
"Dixie"LSC2, and "Nico" Scarlet Macaw.
You know what, my Dixie must be a strange Cockatoo cause she grab food with her right foot while perching on the left....lol
 

Jtbirds

Banned
Banned
Mar 6, 2013
1,110
1
Pennsylvania
I can as my m2 I pretty universal with his feet and uses whatever he finds available, but my galah is left footed it may seem although switches at times. My medium sulphur with no upper mandibule uses both really because she has to as she is slightly disabled, but working with all the cockatoos I have this theory seems to prove correct.

I'd also like to wonder if owners of eclectus notice there eclectus not holding things SI there feet at all, mine do but only in desperate situations other then that never.. Anyone else have input on that?
 

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