This family includes all cockatoo species that currently exist.

What makes cockatoos easily recognizable is their crest, which rises and lowers, signalling their state of mind: in situations of stress, or agitation, those feathers will raise. They emit very loud and high-pitched sounds to communicate with other members. These birds usually have more neutral colours than macaws and parrots.

Being social animals, they can gather in flocks of dozens, or even more, depending on the availability of food in the area.

The largest species is the Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, which can be between 22 inch (56 cm) and 26 inch (66 cm), lives in Australia and can live for over 50 years. The heaviest is the Palm Cockatoo which can weigh 2.6 pounds (1.18 kg).