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Cockatoos are the silliest. I think of all my dream pets, a Cockatoo is the one I want the most… And the one I’m the least likely to actually get. I do not think I could handle a feathered toddler who’s still somehow smarter than me.

One Cockatoo is both of those things and, most importantly, she’s really fancy. She’s great at spinning around, and she loves to show it off to her adoring fans… Always in exchange for a treat. She is a lady with standards, after all:

The Gulf Breeze Zoo is home to lots of animals, but Sunshine the Cockatoo takes the cake. These aren’t just her tricks; these are her training sessions. She’s such a smart girl, and a fast learner to boot.

Sunshine lives at Gulf Breeze Zoo, which is also located in the Sunshine State! It’s not exactly Australia, but it’s as close as she’s going to get, and she’s thriving. She loves it there, and she especially loves Keeper Hailee, who works closely with her!

Related: Wild Cockatoos ‘Choose New Mom’ and It’s Amazing

Sunshine the Cockatoo Is Learning Tricks

The caption tells us this is a training session, but even if it didn’t, you can tell. Typically, when someone gives an animal a treat after they do a trick, it’s because they’re working on it! Sunshine is most likely going to be spending some time out of her cage, which is why she needs training for tricks!

If she’s going to be around people, and especially paying patrons who need to stay safe, she needs to know how to handle herself. Cool tricks like spin are awesome, but she’s probably also learning the basics: step up, stay, things like that.

Should You Teach a Cockatoo Tricks?

Now, a zoo has a bigger obligation to make sure their animals are trained and interesting than a human would. They want to teach their animals to do cool stuff so we can look at it. Regular pet Cockatoos don’t technically need to know tricks, but they do need training.

Learning complex tricks is beneficial for a Cockatoo since it’s mentally stimulating, but it’s not necessary. Your pet Cockatoo needs to be tamed, if only so you can take care of them. They’ll need basic skills, like:

1. Step up (to step onto your hand).

Luckily, these basic skills tend to come pretty easily to these intelligent birds, so long as you interact with them regularly. They need to trust you to learn from you, and in time, you can definitely teach them more complex tricks, too!

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This story was originally published by Parade Pets on Mar 8, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add Parade Pets as a Preferred Source by clicking here.