Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
Cacatua galerita
The sulphur-crested cockatoo communicates with extremely loud screeching calls. The cacophonous noise from a rowdy flock can be near-deafening. When these birds forage on the ground, there is usually a lookout who sits in the trees and gives an alarm cry if danger approaches.
Raucous & Rowdy
Large and loud, the sulphur-crested cockatoo is named for the sulfur-coloured (a pale yellow) head crest that it flaunts by fanning it out into a flamboyant crown. When excited, it will screech as if screaming bloody murder. Meant to send messages across long distances through densely forested habitats, the calls of this cockatoo can become deafening in the more open environments of parks or gardens.
A sulphur-crested cockatoo erects its crest and cries out as the sun sets over Sydney.
Coming in at a length of 44 – 55 cm (17.5 – 21.5 inches) and armed with a sharp-tipped beak, this hefty cockatoo is liable to do some real damage. This inquisitive ave eagerly explores everything in its environment, usually by way of putting everything in its beak. This often means that it also leaves behind a trail of destruction — obliterating cereal and fruit crops, gnawing on wooden houses, and doing some impromptu carpentry on any outdoor furniture (usually unappreciated by the owners). However, this bird isn't a destructive anarchist, trying to dismantle order and structure wherever it sticks its beak. Just like our fingernails, the cockatoo's beak is made from keratin and is continually growing. So instead of a nail file, the cockatoo uses most anything else to keep its beak tip trimmed.
…Yet Still Lovable
You'd think this bird would be a menace to the more ordered societies that have to live alongside it. While some do see it as a pest, it is also undoubtedly one of the most iconic Australian birds, beloved by many Aussies for its often quirky attitude and boisterous personality. There are even people who bring them into their homes as pets — their love for the bird overcoming the loud screeching and its tendency towards inquisitive destruction. The sulphur-crested cockatoo is naturally very sociable and thus forms very strong bonds and can be very affectionate. It is also considered to be about as intelligent as a 1 to 2-year-old human child, with the same curiosity but a lot more mobility. Getting one of these as a pet is not a decision you make on a whim. It is challenging to keep and with a lifespan of up to 80 years — with some living to 100 — in captivity, it is a lifelong companion (in fact, it's likely to outlive you).
Companionable Cockatoos
A very handsome individual.
It can be spotted most frequently throughout eastern Australia and Tasmania, with a smaller population on the southwest coast in Perth. Tropical and subtropical forests, dry savannahs, city parks and gardens; anywhere there are trees, this bird can make a living. A tree hollow is an ideal home for it, usually preferring a waterside property.
A male cockatoo courts a female with a flashy dance performance. He fans his crest out, showing it off in its full feathery glory, and then proceeds to bob and swivel his head in a figure-eight motion until the female is sufficiently impressed. This is how lifelong companionships are established. Once a parrot has found its soulmate, together they construct a nest in the hollow to incubate eggs and nurture chicks. A family bond is so strong that even once the fledglings have left the nest, they will remain together with their parents year-round.
Groups of these gregarious birds gather in flocks of a dozen to communities of several hundred but often split into smaller cliques when foraging on the ground — berries, seeds, plants, and insects make up their diet. As most of the group is busy with their heads down in the grass, one lookout usually remains up on a high branch, scanning the horizon for threats. If danger is spotted, he will give out an alarm call, alerting his feasting fellows who then take to the trees. These cockatoos are also happy to take hand-outs from people. However, we humans should refrain from such "generosity" as it often leads to more diseased populations that engage in more bold and destructive behaviours.
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📍 Sydney, Australia 📅 October 2023
Despite their raucous reputation, these were some of the most chilled-out birds that I've photographed. Spending time sitting among a flock of these big white squawkers as they foraged in the grass was surprisingly relaxing. Some ignored me, others approached to stare at me and the big black eye of my camera lens. No lookout rang an alarm up in the trees above. And while I emphasise their propensity for ear-splitting calls, the birds I sat with were very quiet, at least while on the ground — that changed as they took to the trees at dusk and filled the sun-spilled skies of Sydney with their shrieks, while at the same time raising their crests for even more attention.
📍 Calga, New South Wales, Australia
While working at a wildlife sanctuary in New South Wales, there was an injured sulphur-crested cockatoo kept inside the building where we'd prepare food for all the animals. If you ever wanted to be dissuaded from owning this bird as a pet, spend some time in the same room as one that feels like it's not getting enough attention. A few times every hour, it would sound like a demon was trying to escape from hell, as the ears of everyone in the room were assaulted by a bombardment of squawks and screeches. These cockatoos were also very bitey birds, at least those that I'd met.
Where Does It Live?
⛰️ A variety of wooded habitats, often near water.
📍 Northern and eastern mainland Australia, and Tasmania. As well as New Guinea and the Aru Islands — has been introduced to New Zealand and Indonesia.
‘Least Concern’ as of 09 August, 2018.
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Size // Small
Length // 44 - 55 cm (17.3 - 21.6 in)
Wingspan // Up to 103 cm (40.5 in)
Weight // 950 grams (2 lbs)
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Activity: Diurnal ☀️
Lifestyle: Social 👥
Lifespan: 40 years in the wild (up to 100 in captivity).
Diet: Omnivore
Favorite Food: Grass seeds, plants, nuts and insects.
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Class: Aves
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Cacatuidae
Genus: Cacatua
Species: C. galerita
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The Sulphur-crested cockatoo can be expected to live for 80 years, with some individuals in captivity surviving into their hundreds.
It is thought to be as intelligent as a 1 to 2-year-old human child. It has the ability to mimic human speech, quickly picking up on different words and phrases.
Its beak, made of keratin, grows continually throughout its life, and so it must keep it trim by biting different surfaces — often causing unwanted damage.
It likes to live in tree hollows, usually near some kind of water.
To attract a mate, a male will erect his crest and swivel his head in a figure-eight dance.
The screams of sulphur-crested cockatoos are very loud. They often vocalize as they settle down to roost for the night.
