Cockatoos need friends. Parrots in general thrive when there are friends involved, whether that’s humans, cage-mates, or siblings they don’t have to share their living space with. They just love to have someone to talk to, play with, and watch: without that, they can turn very grouchy!
Cockatoo with his feathers puffed in disapproval. Image via Shutterstock / Abrar 55
Some Cockatoos are more willing to meet strangers than others, though. Since Cockatoos tend to be one of the most frequently neglected birds, many of them get off to rough starts that can make it hard for them to socialize later on. However, with enough love and patience, they can learn to make friends again.
On Thursday, October 9th, one rescue Cockatoo was out for her daily walk with her mama when she stumbled onto a bunch of new friends. As soon as she saw them, she knew she wanted to be besties, so she did all she could think of: screamed, “I love you!”
If I ran into The Parrot Lady, you can bet that I’d be telling Sweet Pea I love her right back. Meeting Sweet Pea would actually be like meeting a celebrity. These ducks must not have TikTok, because if they did, they’d be swarming her! She’s a TikTok star. Her mom’s account has over a million followers!
Sweet Pea was so excited to see these ducks because she’s used to life with other birds. She has several siblings, including an African Grey Parrot that she kind of can’t stand and a Labrador Retriever whose relationship with miss Sweet Pea has taken the internet by storm!
Related: Cockatoo Telling African Grey Parrot to ‘Talk to the Claw’ Is Peak Sibling Behavior
Sweet Pea tells everyone she loves them: her mom says it to her all the time. She’ll say it to strangers, her siblings, and even right back to her mom. It’s a pretty good tool for getting out of trouble, to be honest. No one can resist a pretty bird professing her love for them!
Sweet Pea is also a rescue, which only makes this sweeter: she’s 24 years old, and she definitely didn’t grow up hearing, “I love you” very often. She still has some plucked-out feathers from those days, but it’s okay. Now, her biggest worry is whether the ducks will love her back or not!
And Brody. She is always beefing with Brody:
I love the two of them together. I know they love each other deep down, too!
Cockatoos Love Outside Time
Sweet Pea was only able to meet these ducks because her mom loves to take her on daily walks. She has a little harness and leash, spending most of the walk either perched on mom’s shoulder or the handle of her stroller.
Though you don’t technically have to take a Cockatoo outside for them to be happy and healthy, it certainly doesn’t hurt. Whether you take them out on a leash, in a stroller, or in a separate outdoor cage, being outside provides:
A chance to hear something new.
Fresh air and wind, which can be very mentally stimulating.
If you can take your Cockatoo outside, you should certainly try it. And if you see some ducks there, let them know you love them!
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This story was originally reported by Parade Pets on Oct 15, 2025, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add Parade Pets as a Preferred Source by clicking here.