The Sulphur Crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita) is probably Australia’s best known parrot. This loud, mischievous bird is a hard one to ignore when it flies over you, so it boisterously takes the spot for our #3 Bird Photography Challenge.
What does it look like?
Sulphur crested cockatoo Trio
The Sulphur Crested Cockatoo is a large parrot which varies in size from 44 to 55cms. Its plumage is white overall, but the underwing and tail are tinged in a pale yellow. Its distinctive crest is sulphur yellow, hence its name, and is often raised in alarm. It has a curved black bill, the eyes are black or dark brown with a white eye-ring. The legs are charcoal.
How does it behave?
A flock of cockatoos sharing a tree with a cormorant
The sulphur crested cockatoo roosts in trees. Its nest is a bed of wood chips in a hollow limb high up in eucalyptus trees near water. Eggs are laid in the tree hollow. Both male and female incubate the eggs and care for the chicks. Cockatoos feed in small to large groups, their diet consisting of berries, seeds, leaf buds, nuts and roots. They can be very destructive in urban areas where they sometimes cause damage to crops, seedlings and soft timber on houses. Consequently, although they are a protected species, they can a bit of a pest.
Sulphur crested cockatoos are fun to watch when engaged in a courtship display: crest erect, tail feathers spread wide, nodding and bobbing their head whilst emitting a low chuckling call.
This is an extremely intelligent bird, and very good at learning to talk, so it is often kept as a pet. It is also a long-lived bird (40 to 70 years).
Did you know?
Whenever a flock is feeding, there is at least one cockatoo perched high in a tree, keeping guard. This is so well known that it has even entered the Australian slang: a lookout posted by criminals or operators of illegal gambling games is called a cockatoo, or cocky for short!
Where is it found?
The Sulphur Crested Cockatoo is found in forests and woodlands, as well as in urban areas, in Eastern and Northern Australia. It avoids treeless arid regions.
These cockatoos were photographed perched on a dead tree on the water’s edge in the Gippsland Lakes. Their raucous calls could be heard for miles as they flew in! The images were taken with a Canon 60D camera and EF100-400 lens, zoomed in at 400, whilst we were on board our catamaran – an additional challenge to lens stability.
Click on any image to display in full screen.
Sv-Anui 
why did you pick this one?? we have zillions of them here, and they eat and buggar up all the fruit trees plus stuff up the new growth on native trees. They are a part of the Australian landscape and that is what wins them a reprieve.
Because they were there, around the boat and hard to ignore! You might like the next ones better, less destructive! 🙂
I take it they are not always appreciated!! lol. But they are lovely!
Hi Cybele, yes they are not a favourite of farmers, but we still find them interesting.
Awesome. I love these feathery creatures.
Thanks Najum… If you are interested, we post a different bird photo challenge every 2nd thursday.
How can I enter into that challenge?
You can’t – this is not a public challenge, just one I have set for myself. Just enjoy the images and information!
I love the Cockies.
Not everybody does, but they are quite striking birds, aren’t they. I would have liked a shot of them in flight to add to the collection, but the couple I took with three of them overhead was too blurry…. bugger!