

Form feeding hierarchies, with large males being dominant. Found in pairs, small flocks, or large (1,000 individuals) to very large flocks (infrequently, over 2,000 individuals). Juveniles disperse widely join locally nomadic flock by autumn of second year (also see Fledging) (Rowley 1983 Marchant and Higgins 1999 Rowley and Boesman 2019). Nomadic individuals leave stable home ranges of breeding pairs and form flocks elsewhere. Some individuals nomadic while others resident. May fly long distances from roost to foraging areas. Range over large distances in search of food and water. Roost communally in large trees, except breeding pairs, which roost near tree hollow (Rowley 1990 Marchant and Higgins 1999 Rowley and Boesman 2019). Fly to roost in evening, often calling loudly. Drink in afternoon (or more often during hot weather). When possible, rest in trees near feeding areas between foraging bouts, which last 30 min to 5 hr. When food is scarce (winter), forage most of the day. When food is abundant (summer), feed twice a day (morning and evening).

Hatching and fledging success rates relatively high (Rowley 1990 Rowley and Boesman 2019). Hit by motor vehicles when feeding by roadsides (Rowley 1983 Marchant and Higgins 1999) Heat stress/illness resulting from climate change (McWhorter et al. Illegal trade (Cameron 2007 Vall-llosera and Cassey 2017) Population trend: increasing (Engelhard et al. Regarded as one of Australia’s most widespread and abundant birds. Protected as a native species of Australia under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act of 1999 (Department of the Environment and Energy 2019b). Least Concern (as of Feb 2019) (BirdLife International 2018) (Johnstone and Storr 1998 Marchant and Higgins 1999 Engelhard et al. Less commonly, shrublands, beaches, and mangroves.Īdapts well to agricultural lands and pastures/livestock areas, as well as suburban parks, gardens, sports fields, golf courses, etc. Occurs in a wide variety of open habitats with trees: woodlands and forests (especially eucalyptus), grasslands/savanna. Additional range expansion due to escape from aviaries (Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union 1984). Occurrence in inland areas expanded after European settlement, due to clearing of native vegetation for cereal crops and provisioning of water for livestock (Saunders et al. Most of Australia, including Tasmania and other offshore islands (Engelhard et al.
ROSE BREASTED COCKATOO FEMALE FULL
Young hatch with sparse pink feathers full feathers grow by 4 weeks old (Marchant and Higgins 1999). Crest white or pale pink (Johnstone and Storr 1998 Pizzey and Knight 2012 Rowley and Boesman 2019). Face, neck, and underparts saturated pink.

Subtle differences in appearance among subspecies (see Engelhard et al. Sexes similar, except eye color-dark brown in male, pink to red in female (Rowley 1990 Johnstone and Storr 1998 Marchant and Higgins 1999 Rowley and Boesman 2019).

Bill off-white to pale gray has greenish wash in some populations.
ROSE BREASTED COCKATOO FEMALE SKIN
Ring of pinkish-white or pinkish-grey wrinkled skin around eye, raised and featherless said to be helpful in distinguishing subspecies. Male: 345 g (12.2 oz) (Rowley 1990 Rowley and Boesman 2019)įemale: 311 g (11.0 oz) (Rowley and Boesman 2019)įor Western Australia birds, Johnstone and Storr (1998) report slightly lower average weights: male, 327 g (11.5 oz) female, 290 g (10 oz).ģ5-36 cm (14 in) (Johnstone and Storr 1998 Rowley and Boesman 2019)ħ5 cm (30 in) (Marchant and Higgins 1999)Ĭockatoo of medium size. 2018)Ĭacatua roseicapilla (Marchant and Higgins 1999) Rose or Rose-breasted Cockatoo (Marchant and Higgins 1999 Black et al. *Recognized by some authorities (e.g., Gill and Donksker 2019) but not others (e.g., Johnstone and Darnell 2018). Subspecies: * Eolophus roseicapilla kuhli (Mathews, 1912) - northern Australia Subspecies: Eolophus roseicapilla albiceps (Schodde, 1989) - eastern Australia Subspecies: Eolophus roseicapilla roseicapila (Vieillot, 1817) - Western Australia Species: Eolophus roseicapilla (Vieillot, 1817) - Galah Sometimes placed in genus Cacatua in the wild, regularly hybridizes Cacatua sanguinea and C. All rights reserved.įamily: Psittacidae - parrots, cockatoos, macaws, lories Image credit: © San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.
