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Status in the Wild

World Population:
About 50,000

Range:
C.l. leadbeateri: Interior of SE Australia from SW Queensland and W New South Wales to NW Victoria and CE South Australia.
C.l. mollis: Inland W and C Australia east to Eyre Peninsula and Lake Eyre basin, S Australia.


Habitat:
Mainly found in arid interior of Australia, favouring eucalyptus woodland around rivers and ponds, also mulga, mallee, cypress and acacia woodland, as well as farmland. Up to 300m (984 ft).

Threat Summary:
Loss of habitat and because it is a ecological specialist has faced downturns in its population with poor recovery potential; also trapping for wild bird trade.

IUCN Rating:
Least concern (Red list 2006), listed as vulnerable with NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Threatened Species Conservation Act (2005).

Wild Diet:
Grass seed, paddy melon seed, figs, pine cones, eucalyptus seeds and bulbs, bitter wild melon seeds, nuts, roots, insect larvae.

CITES Rating:
Appendix II

Ecology:
May be found in the company of Galahs (Rose-breasted cockatoos) and Corellas; found in pairs or groups up to 50; will feed both on the ground and in trees.

Clutch and Egg Size:
2 to 4, ovate eggs, 40.0 x 29.5mm (1.5 x 1.2 in).

Breeding Season:
August to December.

Links to Other Project(s):
http://www.nagonline.net/Proceedings/NAG1995/Food%20Intake%20of%20a%20Pair%20of%20Major%20Mitchell.pdf

More Info Sites:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink_cockatoo

http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/publications/p02322aa.pdf/Major_Mitchells_cockatoo_emCacatua_leadbeateri/em.pdf

http://www.vet.uga.edu/vpp/ivcvm/1998/boyd/index.php

http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/listings/MajorMitchellsCockatooVulSpListing.htm