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12

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita) Alternate name(s): "White Cockatoo" Aboriginal name(s): "gehr" [western bundjalung]; "gayambula" [ngadjon]; "kaneky", "mooyi", "kogga-longo", "arunta", "korina", "kudrungoo", "moorai", "nannawarra", "tingari" Size: 45-50 cm Weight: 0.6-1.0 kg

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Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Sulphur-crested Cockatoos are medium-sized cockatoos. They are almost all-white, except some yellow hues on their undertail and underwings. Their most prominent feature are the yellow crest feathers that when relaxed trail behind the head. When erected, the single feathers point upward like the fingers of a hand. The irises are dark, the bill, legs and feet are dark-grey. Twitcher's tip To answer a frequently asked question, namely why Sulphur-crested Cockatoos have been given their name: The chemical element Sulphur in its crystalline form is yellowish - as are the birds' crests (see photos below). Compared to species of corellas they have a permanently visible, sulphur-yellow crest.

Taxonomy, classification See Sulphur-crested Cockatoo at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo is available HERE . The range of Sulphur-crested Cockatoos extends from Australia, via New Guinea and islands of eastern Indonesia, to West Papua and Palau. There is also an introduced population on the North Island of New Zealand. There are two races of Sulphur-Crested Cockatoos. Race "fitzroyi" populates the tropical North of Australia, from the Kimberley to roughly Mt. Isa, QLD. To the East of Mt. Isa, i.e. throughout Cape York peninsula, and the eastern part of the continent spanning about the north-eastern half of QLD and the eastern half of NSW race "galerita" is found. They also populate the south-eastern corner of SA and all of Tasmania. After significant inland rainfall they may disperse further into the semi-arid centre of the continent, but they do not reach (e.g.) the Paroo River, a major northern tributary to the Darling River. The only population in WA, in addition to the one in the tropical North, was introduced to Perth some time before 1935. Originally found in various types of woodland, from dense forest to more open habitats, often near water courses lined with River Red Gums, Sulphur-Crested Cockatoos are extending their range by adapting to human activity. Now they are often found around inland farms and rural roads, where they feed on various types of seeds, including commercial crops. Where to look? How to find this species? Where present, Sulphur-crested Cockatoos are hard to miss. Their raucous calls can often be heard over long distances. They are most easily found near food sources, such as e.g. commercial crops and along rural roads (where trucks have lost grain). Out in nature, they usually stay close to water courses. Hundreds of birds can be seen if one knows where to find their roosting colonies, often in River Red Gums.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "galerita" Narrabri, NSW, lies in an area where the ranges of Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, race "galerita", and Little Corella, overlap and both species are common to abundant. Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, race "galerita", which are in principle at home in eastern Australia, along the coastline and the Great Dividing Range, have extended their range westward over the past few decades. Prior to the advent of sorghum farming, in the 1960ies, they did not occur in the Narrabri area. These days Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, race "galerita", are found in large numbers in north-western NSW, where we see them on an almost daily basis. Often found in large flocks around reliable food sources, such as grain storage facilities or olive groves, often in conjunction with Little Corellas. Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, race "galerita", were also spotted by us on a trip to the East of the Great Dividing Range, in the area from Armidale to Dorrigo, northern NSW. D. Wilczynska reports spotting Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, race "galerita", in both Tasmania and Daintree NP, QLD, in March 2015. M. Eaton found Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, race "galerita", in Torquay, VIC, in April 2022. Race "fitzroyi" We spotted Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, race "fitzroyi", in various locations around Darwin, NT, in August 2014. Several contributors also report finding Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, race "fitzroyi", occasionally in different locations across the Top End, NT. J. Greaves reports spotting Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, race "fitzroyi", T Pickertaramoor, Melville Island, off Darwin, NT, in December 2016.

Photos

Race "galerita"

Not the photos you want? Or are you after even better quality? Have a look here .

ADULT

MALE

Frontal view of a male Sulphur-crested Cockatoo; note the dark iris
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2012]

Near-lateral portrait of a male Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2020]

Near-lateral view of a male Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, September 2019]

Close-up near-lateral view of a male Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, September 2019]

Near-lateral view of a male Sulphur-crested Cockatoo displaying its crest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2017]

Close-up lateral portrait of a male Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a male Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, September 2019]

FEMALE

Frontal view of a male Sulphur-crested Cockatoo; note the red-brown iris
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2012]

Sex unknown

Near-lateral view of a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2010]

Dorsal view of a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2011]

Sulphur-yellow feather from the crest of a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2016]

Sulphur-yellow feather from the crest of a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2016]

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo in flight, just after takeoff from a treetop
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, September 2006]

This Sulphur-crested Cockatoo is doing its usual thing, screaming its head off; in this photo one can clearly see the sulphur-yellow underwings
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2010]

Full flaps, landing gear out - Sulphur-crested Cockatoo ready for landing (photo courtesy of R. Druce)

And here a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo coming straight at you...
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2011]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Lateral view of a juvenile male Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2022]

PBFD - Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease

A significant number of Sulphur-crested Cockatoos have a disease that leads to two observable effects - loss of feathers and beak deformations. Below a few examples observed by us in the wild.

Dorsal view of "Baldy", not a Sulphur-crested, but a Bald-headed Cockatoo
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2008]

And the winner in the "Dirtiest Cocky of all times" competition is...
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2011]

... but there is strong competition
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2011]

This Sulphur-crested Cockatoo is similarly dirty compared to the others shown above, but note also the deformity of its bill, where part of the upper mandible is missing, while the lower mandible is much longer than normal
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2011]

Frontal view of a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo in what looks like an advanced stage of PBFD
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2012]

Lateral view of a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo in what looks like an advanced stage of PBFD
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2012]

The same Sulphur-crested Cockatoo as shown above, in an attempt to raise its crest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2012]

Race "fitzroyi"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Near-frontal view of a male Sulphur-crested Cockatoo feeding on fruit (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Palmerston Golf Course, Palmerston, NT, July 2020]

Lateral view of a male Sulphur-crested Cockatoo feeding on fruit (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Palmerston Golf Course, Palmerston, NT, July 2020]

Lateral Sulphur-crested Cockatoo feeding on fruit (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, May 2018]

Lateral view of a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo at dusk
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, August 2014]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Jun - Dec

Eggs: 2

Incubation period: 28 - 30 days

Fledging age: 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.

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Tree hollow

Material: Woodchips

Height above ground: 5 - 30 m

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo climbing out of its nesting hollow
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, October 2011]

Female Sulphur-crested Cockatoo sitting in the opening of its nesting hollow in a River Red Gum
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2015]

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo at the entrance of its nesting hollow; this pair has to put up with new neighbours, a pair of Whistling Kites who have decided to make their home "upstairs"
[Pilliga Lagoon, near Pilliga, NSW, November 2019]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 48 x 34 mm

Colour: White

Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal

Mobility: Dispersive/sedentary

Elementary unit: Flock

In environments such as inland NSW, Sulphur-crested Cockatoos usually stay close to waterways, even if they have dried up. When flying across drier parts of the land, it is normally on their way from one food source to the next.

Sulphur-crested Cockatoos are often seen by us together with Little Corellas and/or Galahs in flocks of up to hundreds, especially where there is plenty of food (e.g. near olive groves or grain storage facilities).

They are quite destructive, often nibbling on or chopping off the young shoots, or even finger-thick branches, of trees just for fun. They are also playful, often performing acrobatics.

"Ave destructivus" - this Sulphur-crested Cockatoo has been pruning one of the photographer's eucalypts again...
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2019]

What can I destroy now? Maybe this 18-mm high-flow hose?
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2011]

Nope, this is not an albino flying fox... note how the strength of just one toe is sufficient to hold the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo's weight
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2011]

A cross toe hold will also do: Sulphur-crested Cockatoo playing silly buggers
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2021]

... and here is another Sulphur-crested Cockatoo playing silly buggers
[Eulah Creek, NSW, June 2011]

Some TLC the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo way...
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2010]

Standoff at the bird feeder: Male Sulphur-crested Cockatoo vs. Rainbow Lorikeet (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, June 2013]

Another standoff between two male Sulphur-crested Cockatoos (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, May 2014]

Sulphur-crested Cockatoos are a noisy lot to start with, but occasionally the volume they produce can increase a notch or two yet. When they are at their noisiest best, there is usually a good reason. In the case shown below, the racket was about a Lace Monitor.

Female Sulphur-crested Cockatoo warning everybody of the presence of a goanna
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2014]

Sulphur-crested Cockatoos do not shy away from hustling large and powerful predators, such as e.g. a Peregrine Falcon.

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo trying to intimidate a Peregrine Falcon
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2021]

Food, Diet

Adults: Seeds

Dependents: Regurgitated seeds

Water intake: Daily

Like basically all cockatoos, Sulphur-crested Cockatoos are seed-eaters, where seeds include those in cones and nut-like fruit, for example those of Acacia salicina and White Cedar trees. They also take grass seeds, seeds from introduced trees and shrubs (and commercial crops).

Additional information

There is a separate page about a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo feeding on Acacia salicina seeds.

Here an example of Sulphur-crested Cockatoos stripping a wattle tree/shrub to feed on its seed pods.

Sulphur-crested Cockatoos often feed in large numbers, regularly also together with other species, such as e.g. Little Corellas; they feed on our grassland only in wintertime, always about an hour before sunset, when starting their way out of a neighbouring olive grove back to their roosts
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2011]

Closer look at Sulphur-crested Cockatoos feeding on another day
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2011]

Male Sulphur-crested Cockatoo feasting on fruit (photo courtesy of M. Windeyer)
[Gilgandra, NSW, March 2013]

Near-frontal view of a male Sulphur-crested Cockatoo feeding on fruit (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Palmerston Golf Course, Palmerston, NT, July 2020]

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo taking grit, possibly enriched with minerals from the sea? (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[The Gap, Watsons Bay, NSW, September 2022]

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo cracking a jacaranda seed pod

Close-up near-frontal view of a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo munching on a cone of a male White Cypress Pine, Callitris glaucophylla
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2019]

Close-up near-lateral view of a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo munching on a cone of a male White Cypress Pine, Callitris glaucophylla
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2022]

This Sulphur-crested Cockatoo is chewing on an oleander seed pod; since nobody has keeled over yet in our garden, it appears that Sulphur-crested Cockatoos are not affected by the toxins
[Eulah Creek, NSW, June 2011]

Here a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo on a lawn in wintertime; for once it is not causing any damage, but doing something good by feeding on clover
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2011]

Male Sulphur-crested Cockatoo feeding on more stringy plant material (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead Reserve, Anstead, QLD, March 2017]

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo picking up food from a lawn
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, October 2006]

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo feeding on seeds of an introduced tree species in an urban garden
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2011]

Female Sulphur-crested Cockatoo checking out the local waterhole, an ornamental pond
[Eulah Creek, NSW, June 2011]

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo drinking from our little garden pond
[Eulah Creek, NSW, June 2011]

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo taking a good mouthful
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2011]

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.

scrcock_20180921_2.m4a	galerita (NW NSW)	Contact calls	© MD
scrcock_20180921.m4a	galerita (NW NSW)	Contact calls (in-flight)	© MD
scrcock_20140128.mp3	galerita (NW NSW)	Contact calls (in-flight)	© MD
scrcock_art_20131109_2.mp3	galerita (SE QLD)	Alarm calls	© ART
scrcock_20140127.mp3	galerita (NW NSW)	Alarm calls (Brown Goshawk)	© MD
scrcock_art_20131212_3.mp3	galerita (SE QLD)	Unsettled	© ART
scrcock_20140115.mp3	galerita (NW NSW)	Curious/ suspicious	© MD
scrcock_20140311_2.mp3	galerita (NW NSW)	Arrival	© MD
scrcock_20191014.m4a	galerita (NW NSW)	Arrival/warning	© MD
scrcock_20140509.mp3	galerita (NW NSW)	Departure	© MD
scrcock_20220402.m4a	galerita (NW NSW)	Begging juvenile, adult answering and feeding	© MD
scrcock_20210122.m4a	galerita (NW NSW)	Begging juvenile & being fed	© MD
scrcock_20180427.m4a	galerita (NW NSW)	? (in-flight)	© MD
scrcock_pb_20180110.m4a	fitzroyi (Darwin, NT)	Contact call	© PB
scrcock_20140818.m4a	fitzroyi (Top End, NT)	Departure	© MD
scrcock_20140816_2.mp3	fitzroyi (Darwin, NT)	Departure	© MD
scrcock_20140816.m4a	fitzroyi (Darwin, NT)	?	© MD

Click here for more recordings

We have also recorded Sulphur-crested Cockatoo wing beats.

scrcock_20191127.m4a

galerita (NW NSW)

Perch to perch

© MD

More Sulphur-crested Cockatoo sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site? If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.

Disclaimer: Comments are always welcome. We give no guarantee that the information presented on these pages is always correct or up-to-date. External links are marked as such and we take no responsibility for the contents of external pages. All images on this site are protected by copyright & used by permission of the respective owners. If you wish to reproduce them or any of the material presented on this web site, please contact us: We hereby acknowledge the original custodians of the land which is described on these pages, including the Gomeroi/Gamilaraay people of the North-west Slopes and Plains of NSW, and the traditional owners of other lands and nations within this country. We acknowledge elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty was never ceded.          Last updated: Fri, 7 October 2022, 2:54 +00:00