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Little CorellaAlternate name(s): "Bare-eyed Cockatoo", "Blood-stained Cockatoo", "Short-billed Corella" ![]() Size: 36-39 cm Weight: 370-630 g (525 g average) |
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See Little
Corella at Wikipedia ![]() |
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Photos |
Race "sanguinea"
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ADULT |
Sex unknown |
Frontal view of a Little Corella feeding on the ground
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Monger, Perth, WA, August 2022]
Little Corellas sitting in a tree; one can see that
there is hardly any pink between eye and bill
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Darwin, NT, August 2013]
Flock of Little Corellas sitting in a tree
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Darwin, NT, August 2013]
(Near-)lateral view of Little Corellas
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Dianella, Perth, WA, December 2014]
Near-dorsal view of a Little Corella feeding on the ground
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Monger, Perth, WA, August 2022]
Near-dorsal view of a Little Corella spreading its wings
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Claremont, Perth, WA, August 2022]
Lateral/near-dorsal comparison between a Little Corella, left,
and a Western Corella
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Monger, Perth, WA, August 2022]
Latral viw of a Little Corella taking off from the ground
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Boolardy Station, Murchison, WA, August 2016]
Near-lateral view of a Little Corella in flight
[Fogg Dam NR,
NT, August 2014]
Lateral view of Little Corellas in flight
[Fogg Dam NR,
NT, August 2014]
Race "gymnopsis"
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ADULT |
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PAIR |
Pair of Little Corellas
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Cooroy, QLD, December 2017]
Sex unknown |
Frontal portrait of a Little Corella
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Gold Coast, QLD, May 2017]
Frontal view of a Little Corella
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2012]
Frontal view of a Little Corella
(photo courtesy of M. Windeyer)
[Gilgandra, NSW, April 2015]
Near-lateral view of a Little Corella
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2012]
Two Little Corellas in a huff about the presence of the photographer
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2012]
Frontal view of a Little Corella spreading its wings,
exposing the prominent yellow tint of its underwings
[Gorokan, NSW, June 2011]
Near-lateral view of a Little Corella
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Stanthorpe, QLD, February 2021]
Lateral view of a Little Corella
(photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Maules Creek, NSW, March 2013]
Lateral view of a Little Corella; note how, while in rest, the edge
of the lower mandible fits into a groove in the upper one
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2007]
Lateral view of a Little Corella
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Gatton, QLD, December 2017]
Dorsal view of a Little Corella; the point of the upper mandible is
pushed into the cavity of the lower one
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2007]
Little Corella reaching for a seed pod
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2007]
Little Corellas on the edge of a trough drinking on a hot summer's day
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2006]
Little Corellas on the edge of a trough drinking on a hot summer's day
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2006]
This Little Corella - and its mate - were observed by us at the end
of winter; note the unusual pinkish-brown tint; we do not know
whether this is due to old or dirty plumage or other causes
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2011]
Little Corellas in flight seen from underneath
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2012]
PBFD - psittacine beak and feather disease
Near-frontal view of two Little Corellas - the one on the left
looks dirty and sick, probably affected by PBFD
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Near Longreach, QLD, May 2023]
Hybridisation
Little Corellas can hybridise with both Galahs and Major Mitchell's Cockatoos.
Little Corella x Major Mitchell's Cockatoo hybrids
Frontal view of a
Little Corella x Major Mitchell's Cockatoo hybrid in captivity
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
Lateral view of a
Little Corella x Major Mitchell's Cockatoo hybrid in captivity
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
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Breeding information |
Breeding season: May - Oct | Eggs: 2 - 4 | Incubation period: 24 days | Fledging age: 42 - 56 days |
The breeding season depends significantly on geographical latitude. Cockatoos are sociable creatures which often nest in loose colonies, also in conjunction with other species.
Two Little Corellas working on the production of the next generation
[O'Brien's Creek, Narrabri Lake, NSW, August 2011]
A. Ross-Taylor reports Little Corellas breeding on the Gold Coast, QLD, in the 2014 breeding season.
Two Little Corellas inspecting a nesting hollow
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Gold Coast, QLD, July 2014]
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Nest |
"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal] |
Type: Tree hollow | Material: Woodchips | Height above ground: 5 - 25 m |
This Little Corella, seen in a River Red Gum, is preparing its nest for
the upcoming breeding season
[O'Brien's Creek, Narrabri Lake, NSW, June 2012]
Little Corellas' version of "home, sweet home"... Hollow-nesting
species such as cockatoos start selecting their new home early,
before the start of the new breeding season (which is usually
defined by the winter solstice)
[April 2017]
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Eggs |
"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay] |
Size: 35 x 25 mm | Colour: White | Shape: Tapered oval |
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Behaviour |
Social behaviour: Communal | Mobility: Dispersive/sedentary | Elementary unit: Flock |
Little Corellas are very sociable birds who prefer to live in large numbers.
Small flock of Little Corellas feeding
[Narrabri, NSW, September 2011]
Flock of Little Corellas foraging on a
mudflat
[Fogg Dam NR,
NT, August 2014]
"Little Corella tree"
(photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Burketown, QLD, September 2019]
There is now a separate page describing a flock of Little Corellas roosting on the ground.
As shown in some of the photos presented on this page, Little Corellas are often seen by us together with Sulphur-crested Cockatoos (while in the past their ranges did not overlap).
An example of peaceful (although not always quiet) co-habitation
- a flock of Little Corellas, together with
Sulphur-crested Cockatoos
[Near Boggabri, NSW, 2006]
Little Corellas often display playful behaviour.
Here an example of playful behaviour shown by Little Corellas
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2011]
Little Corellas playing silly buggers...
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2011]
Even when flying in a large flock, Little Corellas visibly form pairs when flying together.
Some Little Corella "TLC"...
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
Near-lateral/ventral view of a pair of Little Corellas in flight
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2011]
Flock of about 500-700 Little Corellas in flight
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2011]
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Food, Diet |
Adults: Seeds | Dependents: Regurgitated seeds | Water intake: Daily |
Like basically all cockatoos, Little Corellas are seed-eaters, where seeds include those in cones and nut-like fruit, for example those of Acacia salicina (see below). They also take grass seeds (and commercial crops).
Here one of the food sources of Little Corellas: the fruit of an
Acacia salicina tree
Frontal view of a Little Corella feeding in an
Acacia salicina;
note the use of the upper mandible inside the lower one
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2007]
This Little Corella and its mates were feasting on the seeds of a
lemon-scented gumtree
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2011]
Little Corellas taking unripe seeds of a
Grevillea robusta
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2022]
Little Corella taking fruit (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Moggill Regional Park, near Anstead, QLD, April 2017]
Little Corellas feasting on seed cones (photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Maules Creek, NSW, March 2013]
Even when disturbed, the Little Corellas and
Sulphur-crested Cockatoos
did not let go of their food
(photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Maules Creek, NSW, March 2013]
Little Corellas raiding wattle shrubs at the back of our property
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2011]
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Call(s)/Song |
For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own;
comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.
ltcorel_20140817.mp3 |
sanguinea (Top End, NT) |
Contact call | © MD | |
ltcorel_20140817_3.m4a |
sanguinea (Top End, NT) |
Alarm/annoyed call | © MD | |
ltcorel_pb_20210118.m4a |
sanguinea (Top End, NT) |
Pair with begging juvenile | © PB | |
ltcorel_20140817_3.m4a |
sanguinea (Top End, NT) |
? | © MD | |
ltcorel_20211207.m4a |
gymnopsis (NW NSW) |
Contact call (in-flight) | © MD | |
ltcorel_20200715_2.m4a |
gymnopsis (NW NSW) |
Contact calls, Q&A | © MD | |
ltcorel_20200715_3.m4a |
gymnopsis (NSW) |
Warning calls(?), Q&A | © MD | |
ltcorel_20140312.m4a |
gymnopsis (NW NSW) |
Large flock in flight | © MD | |
ltcorel_20200715.m4a |
gymnopsis (NSW) |
? (in-flight) | © MD | |
ltcorel_art_20131204.m4a |
gymnopsis (SE QLD) |
? | © ART |
More Little Corella sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.