Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
Cacatua galerita
Quick Facts
- Type
- Bird
- Size
- About 45–55 cm long
- Weight
- 815 g – 1 kg (1.8–2.2 lb)
- Habitat
- Forest, woodland, farmland and urban areas
- Diet
- Omnivore — seeds, nuts, fruit, roots and some insects
- Active Time
- Diurnal, active by day
- Lifespan
- 40–60 years, sometimes 70+ in captivity
- It raises its tall sulphur-yellow crest into a fan shape when excited, curious or alarmed.
- Its powder-soft feathers release a fine keratin dust that helps waterproof its plumage.
- Sulphur-crested Cockatoos are known to figure out how to open latches and bins to reach food.
- Some captive individuals have lived past 60 years of age, among the longest lifespans of any parrot.
About the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
The Sulphur-crested Cockatoo is a large, unmistakable white parrot native to Australia and New Guinea, easily recognized by the tall sulphur-yellow crest it raises when excited or alarmed. It lives in forests, woodlands and increasingly in towns and cities, where its intelligence and adaptability let it thrive alongside people, sometimes to the frustration of gardeners and farmers. Sulphur-crested Cockatoos are highly social, gathering in large noisy flocks to feed on seeds, nuts, fruit and roots, and they are capable of learning to open latches and containers to reach food. They form strong pair bonds and can be remarkably long-lived, with some captive individuals surviving well past 60 years of age.
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