Galah Cockatoo

The Galah Cockatoos (Eolophus roseicapillus) - also known as Rose-breasted Cockoatoos - are generally well-adapted birds that are found in abundance throughout central Australia. They are also becoming increasingly common towards the coastal regions.

They are usually seen in large flocks, often feeding with Sulphur Crested Cockatoos.

Galahs make wonderful, energetic pets and when trained with consistency have a good talking ability. These birds have an affectionate and bubbly personality and are extremely popular as pets.

They are very smart and enjoy human company, loving to learn new tricks and impress their owner. Being well adapted to the dry conditions of central Australia, the Galah is a hardy and robust bird that adjusts well to climatic changes.

They are also keen chewers and require toys or other forms of boredom relief to keep them stimulated and out of trouble. Pet galahs should always be obtained as hand reared birds from aviary-bred parents and once again, males generally make better pets than females. It is not advisable to obtain a pet Galah from the wild as these birds quickly revert to their wild behaviours and become difficult birds to keep.

Distribution:

The Galah Cockatoo is one of the most common and widespread cockatoos. It occupies open country in almost all parts of mainland Australia. Galahs are found in all Australian states, and are absent only from the driest areas and the far north of Cape York Peninsula. They appear to have been self-introduced to Tasmania.

They are common in some metropolitan areas, for example Perth and Melbourne, and common to abundant in open habitats which offer at least some scattered trees for shelter. The changes wrought by European settlement, a disaster for many species, have been highly beneficial for the Galah because of the clearing of forests in fertile areas and the provision of stock watering points in arid zones.

Description:

Galah Cockatoos typically measure around 14 inches or 350mm in length and weigh between 10 - 14 oz or 281 and 400 grams.

Galahs have a pale to mid grey back, a pink face and chest, and a lighter pink crest.

The most obvious external feature of a cockatoo is the erectile crest that raises immediately when alarmed or excited.

When the crest is lowered, the feathers fold back over the head and the crest is hardly visible.

As attractive as the cockatoo crests are, their major purpose is communication.

A raised crest can indicate that a cockatoo is displaying for its mate; defending its territory or its flock, calling its flock members; or a cockatoo may be expressing curiosity, excitement, surprise, fear or frustration. For those approaching a cockatoo -a raised crest may be a warning not to touch them - or else risk being bitten.

A lowered crest can indicate calmness, friendliness and general approachability.

Males and females look alike, differing only in eye color: the male has a brown iris, the female red.

Owners have described the Galahs to be surprisingly "undusty" for lack of a better word.  They are much less dusty than say african greys. Their pink and grey feathers feel soft to the touch.

Rose-breasted Cockatoo Mutation:

Below images courtesy of Eclod Exotics, a private aviary located in upstate New York.

Diet / Feeding

In their natural habitat, cockatoos typically feed on various seeds, nuts and fruits, such as papaya, durian, langsat and rambutan. As they are also feed on corn growing in fields, they do considerable damage and are, therefore, considered crop pests by farmers. (BirdLife International, 2001)

They also eat large insects, such as crickets (order Orthoptera) and skinks.

Captive birds are usually provided a parrot mix containing various seeds, nuts and dried fruits and vegetables. Additionally, they need to be offered lots of fresh vegetables, fruits and branches (with leaves) for chewing and entertainment.

Reproduction

Breeding Season

Cockatoos only breed once a year - usually between December and March, when vegetation growth is at its peak and food is readily available.

Courtship and Mating

As part of the courtship behavior, the male ruffles his feathers, spreads his tail feathers, extends his wings, and erects his crest. He then bounces about. Initially, the female ignores or avoids him, but - provided he meets her approval - will eventually allow him to approach her.

Once a female has accepted a male, the pair will be spend a good part of the day preen each other's head and scratch each other around the tail. This serves to strengthen their pair bond. Before long, the male mounts the female to perform the actual act of mating by joining of the cloacae. This ritual is usually longer in new pairs and much shorter in bonded pairs. In some instances, the female may even approach the male to initiate the act. Pairs usually separate from their group to find a nesting spot in trees.

Cockatoos form a close bond that lasts for a lifetime. If they are separated, they may slip into a deep depression. In absence of a "true" mate, they may accept a caretaker as its mate.

Goffin Cockatoo

The Goffin's Cockatoo can be a charming, playful and affectionate companion. It is the smallest of the cockatoos, which can be a plus for people who may not have adequate space for one of the larger cockatoos.

The Goffin Cockatoo has a shorter crest on the head than other cockatoos; the crest stands up when they are frightened or get excited during play. Goffin Cockatoos love people and like to cuddle, although they are usually less dependent than other cockatoos. They are very active, and need extended periods of time outside of the cage as well as a variety of toys to prevent stress that could lead to feather-picking and destructive behavior. Examples of good toys include foraging toys, soft wood toys, tree branches and rope toys for chewing, braided or knotted toys for undoing, bells and noisemaker toys, and brightly-colored acrylic toys.

Like other cockatoos, Goffins can be loud screechers, especially if they do not receive adequate attention or have things to keep them busy. Although they are not known for their talking ability, some Goffin Cockatoos can be taught to say quite a few words. Most Goffins respond to music and love to dance. They are very bright, love to play, and may quickly learn to open the cage door. This bird is small in size, but big in personality! If you are able to provide the time and stimulating environment they need, a Goffin's Cockatoo can be a delightful companion for years to come.

Family: Cacatuidae 

Origin: Indonesia (Tanimbar Islands) 

Size: 23-30 cm (9-12 inches), 300-400 grams 

Coloration: White, with salmon-pink highlights in front of the eyes and on the breast. The underside of the flight feathers and the tail have a yellow tint, as do the ear coverts. 

Diet: 65-80% high-quality commercial diet (pellets, crumbles or nuggets). The rest of the diet should consist of 15-30% vegetables and 5% fresh fruits. See Basic Nutrition for Psittacines (Parrot Family). 

Cage Size: 2' L x 3' W minimum 

Grooming: Trim flight feathers, beak, and nails as needed 

Compatibility/Disposition: Active, inquisitive, playful, affectionate; love human attention, but usually not as demanding as other cockatoos

Vocalization: Some do a lot of screeching, especially if bored, so provide adequate attention, toys, and time outside of the cage. Talking ability is variable. 

Playfulness: Usually love to play; like music and love to dance; like to climb; need considerable mental and physical exercise, including time outside of the cage 

Life Span: 40+ years with good care; probably much longer in the wild 

Age at Maturity: 2-3 years 

Nesting Sites in the Wild: Tree hollows 

Sexing: Adult females have a reddish-brown iris, males have a dark brown or black iris 

Special: Need large variety of toys and a good deal of attention to prevent feather-picking, excessive screaming, or destructive behavior. Very intelligent; can be escape artists.

Ducorps Cockatoo

The Ducorps' Cockatoo (Cacatua ducorpsii) is endemic to the Solomon Islands where it is common across most of the Solomons, absent only from Makira in the south. It inhabits lowland rainforests, secondary forests, cleared areas and gardens.

Description:

The Ducorp's Cockatoo is larger than the Goffin's Cockatoo but smaller than the Umbrella Cockatoo. Notable features of this cockatoo include a blue eye ring and a recumbent crest which resembles a sail in its raised state.

The Ducorp's Cockatoo as Pet:

The Ducorp's Cockatoo is reported to be intelligent and playful. They are quieter than most Cockatoos and make sweet pets given a right environment that takes into account their need for plenty of companionship / interaction and mental stimulation. Even though they are smaller than most other cockatoos (not as small as the Goffin's Cockatoo though), they are very active and need roomy cages and lots of toys.

Description:

Ducorp's Cockatoos grow to about 13 inches in length. Notable features of this cockatoo include a blue eye ring and a recumbent crest which resembles a sail in its raised state. They have predominantly white plumage although sometimes the hidden bases of the head and breast feathers have a carnation pink base. Their crests are round and very broad. Ducorp's Cockatoos have pale yellow undersides to their wings and tails. Their feet are gray and their bills are grayish-white. Males have dark brown or black irises, while females have more red coloration in their irises.

Breeding:

Ducorp's Cockatoos are quite rare in aviculture. Breeding pairs need an aviary of at least 12 x 6 x 6 feet in dimension.

Taxonomy:

Genus: English: White Black-billed Cockatoos ... Dutch: Wit and Zwartsnavelkakatoes ... German: Eigentliche Kakadus ... French: Cacatoès

Species: Scientific: Cacatua ducorpsii aka Plyctolophus ... English: Ducorp's Cockatoos, Solomon Island Cockatoos ... Dutch: Ducorps Kakatoe, Salomon Kakatoe ... German: Salomonenkakadu, Ducorps' Kakadu... French: Cacatoès de Ducorps

Black Palm Cockatoo

The Palm Cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus), also known as the Goliath Cockatoo, is a large smoky-grey or black parrot of the cockatoo family.

It is the only member in subfamily Microglossinae and the only member of the monotypic genus, Probosciger. Its unique position within the cockatoo family has been confirmed by molecular studies (Brown and Toft, 1999, Astuti, 2004).

Distribution:

The Palm Cockatoo is distributed in rainforests and woodlands of New Guinea and northern Queensland, Australia. A majority of all captive-bred Palm Cockatoos are currently owned by Natalie Copp, David Roberts, Mike Tyson, Thomas Woodward and Ina Zuncke. The collective breeding program has been deemed a success by the Palm Cockatoo Conservation in Papua New Guinea.

Description:

The Palm Cockatoo is 55–60 cm (22–24 in) in length and weighs 910–1,200 gm. It is a distinctive bird with a large crest and has one of the largest bills of any parrots (only the Hyacinth Macaw's is larger). This powerful bill enables Palm Cockatoos to eat very hard nuts and seeds that other species have difficulty accessing. The bill is unusual as the lower and upper mandibles do not meet for much of its length, allowing the tongue to hold a nut against the top mandible while the lower mandible works to open it. The Palm Cockatoo also has a distinctive red cheek patch that changes colour when the bird is alarmed or excited.

Call:

The Palm Cockatoo makes four different kinds of vocalisations, including a "hellow" call that is surprisingly human-like. There are distinct dialects throughout the species' range. It has a unique display where the bird (typically the male) drums a large branch against a dead bough or tree, creating a loud noise that can be heard up to 100 m away. It is possible that females can assess the durability of the nesting hollow by the resonance of this drumming display.

Breeding

Palm Cockatoos only lay one egg and have one of the lowest breeding success rate reported for any species of parrot (Murphy et al. 2003). Off-setting this is their very long life-span. Captive Palm Cockatoos can live up to 90 years of age, but wild Palm Cockatoos are thought to live up to 40–60 years of age (Heinsohn et al. 2009, in press).

Breeding takes place inside tree hollows, which are typically like standing pipes. Fires play an important role in the destruction and creation of nest hollows. Fires allow the colonisation of microorganisms and termites which enter the tree and start hollowing out the inside. Cyclones are important in the final stage of nest hollow development.

Status

The Palm Cockatoo is still relatively common in Cape York, but is threatened there by habitat loss, particularly bauxite mining around Weipa and altered fire regimes elsewhere. Palm Cockatoos are hunted in New Guinea. This species is in high demand for the pet trade due to its unusual appearance. The Palm Cockatoo is currently evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is listed on Appendix I of CITES.

Blue Eyed Cockatoo

The Blue eyed Cockatoo (cacatua ophthalmica) is native to the forests of New Britain and New Ireland in the Bismarck Archipelago (Papua New Guinea in the western pacific ocean).; where they are typically found in subtropical/tropical lowland moist forests. They are typically seen in pairs or small groups. Blue-eyed cockatoos are very conspicuous when in flight due to their loud screeching calls.

Sadly, this cockatoo is extremely rare both in the wild and in captivity. Therefore, they are a now protected species (listed as Cites II - Endangered Species).

The Bare-eyed Cockatoo - also known as Little Corella is sometimes mistakenly referred to as Blue Eyed Cockatoo - however, these two are very different species and look quite different.

They are long-lived, with an average lifespan is 50 to 60 years. They reach maturity when they are about 3 to 4 years old

Description:

At maturity they will average between 45 and 50 centimeters (18-20 inches) in length and weigh between 500 and 570 grams (18 - 20 oz).

The Blue-eyed Cockatoos get their name from the blue circles of featherless skin around their eyes.

Their plumage is largely white, though a striking large yellow and white crest is seen atop their heads. The yellow feathers are behind the white and are often not seen until the crest is raised. Yellow can also be seen under the wings and tail feathers. The beak of the Blue Eyed Cockatoo is black.

Blue-eyed Cockatoo have zygodactyl grey feet (= the first and fourth toes of each foot are directed backward and the second and third forward. This allows this cockatoo to hold objects and bring food to its beak whilst standing on the other foot.

Males and females look alike; but sometimes can be distinguished by eye color. Males traditionally have a black eyes, while the female's tends to be reddish-brown; but this small difference is not a reliable gender indicator.

Juveniles of both genders have dark eyes.

Bare Eyed Cockatoo

The Little Corella, Cacatua sanguinea - sometimes referred to as the bare-eyed cockatoo - is endemic to Eastern, North-western and Northern Australia.

It is so common in its natural habitat that it has become something of a pest throughout much of Australia, as it can be destructive to the trees in which it perches by chewing the bark off smaller twigs.

The Little Corella congregates in flocks of up to several thousand birds, which often include many Galahs.

These cockatoos generally roosts in trees overnight, and fly off to feed in the early morning with an almost deafening screeching. It mostly feeds on the ground, eating seeds including cereal crops such as wheat and barley.

They can live 50 years or longer; however, most succumb to accidents or disease.  

Description:

The general plumage is white with a very short broad crest. The lores (the region between the eye and bill on the side of a bird's head) and base of the feathers to the head, nape (back of the neck), breast and back are orange-pink. The ear-coverts and feathers above the eyes are tinged dusky-yellow. The underside of the tail-feathers and wings are washed with yellow. The bill is greyish-horn color and elongated. The narrow periophthalmic ring is bluish-grey, extending to the upper cheeks. They have dark brown irides (= plural of iris) and grey feet.

Males and females look alike, except males tend to  be larger than females and have larger heads and beaks. Immature / young birds look like adults, but have a shorter bill and their periophthalmic ring is less blue.

Size:

Average length: 15 inches (36 to 40 cm); range between 14 to 17 inches.  Wing length 11.5 - 13 inches (288 - 330 mm). 

Weight:    10.6 - 16 oz (300-430 grams)

Training and Behavioral Guidance:

Bare-eyed Cockatoos are less demanding and noisy than most of the other cockatoo species, and are loved for their clowny, affectionate personality. Just like the goffins cockatoos, they make a good choice for people who would like a cockatoo that is somewhat easier to accommodate than the larger species. This does not, however, mean that keeping them caged all day without much attention is acceptable. There are many bare-eyed cockatoos in captivity who have developed severe behavioral problems under such sad conditions. They are loving and playful, and should be an integral participant in family life. This is not a "cage bird" - but a fun and extremely loving companion for the right bird owner.

Talking in general terms, cockatoos certainly demand a lot of attention, but are appreciated for their exceptionally loving, devoted personality that is second to none. Cockatoos require an extremely dedicated owner who is willing to provide significant and meaningful attention to these intelligent parrots. They require consistent training from a young age to ensure potential cockatoo owners enjoy a bird free of destructive and annoying habits.

Sulphur Crested Cockatoo

The Sulphur-crested Cockatoo is a large (to 500mm) white parrot with a distinctive yellow crest. The underwing and undertail are tinged yellow. The bill is dark grey-black, and the legs are grey.

Sexes are similar, although the female can be separated at close range by its red-brown eye. The eye is darker brown to almost black in the male. Young Sulphur-crested Cockatoos resemble the adults. 

The Sulphur-crested Cockatoo is similar in appearance to the two introduced species of corella that may be seen in Tasmania, however corellas lack the prominent yellow crest.

Habitat

Sulphur-crested Cockatoos are found in a variety of timbered habitats and are common around human settlements, cultivated areas, parklands, open pasture and croplands. The species has benefited from clearing, cropping and improved access to water. 

The birds stay in the same area all year round. The popularity of the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo as a cage bird has increased its range, as these birds either escape or are released deliberately in areas where they do not already occur.

Diet

Sulphur-crested Cockatoos have a varied diet of berries, seeds, nuts and roots, green leaves and stems, flowers, bark, bulbs, rhizomes and insect larvae. Feeding normally takes place in small to large groups, with one or more members of the group watching for danger from a nearby perch. 

When not feeding, birds may use their powerful bill to bite off smaller branches and leaves from trees. In urban areas, they can destroy timber decking and panelling on houses. This activity may help to keep the bill trimmed and from growing too large.

Breeding

The breeding season is from August to January. Two to three white eggs are laid in a suitable tree hollow upon a bed of wood chips, which is prepared by both sexes. Both birds also incubate and raise the chicks. The chicks remain with the parents all year round and family groups will stay together indefinitely.

Sulphur-crested Cockatoos are very long-lived, and can live upwards of 70 years in captivity, with birds of over 100 years having been recorded. They only live to about 20–40 years in the wild.