How long do cockatoos live?

In captivity, the average life span for cockatoos is about 65 years; however, in the wild, the life span is generally shorter. Many factors determine the life span of a cockatoo, including species, diet, socialization and medical care.

Healthy pet cockatoos commonly live to be over 70 years old. An unhealthy diet is the greatest contributor to a shortened life span. Cockatoos need high-quality food, and human food should be avoided. A cockatoo named Cocky Bennett died in 1916 at the age of 120, making him the oldest cockatoo ever recorded, as of 2014. Though cockatoos are popular as pets, caution should be taken because they can easily outlive their owners.