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Sulphur-crested Cockatoo  (Cacatua galerita)

Also Known As: Greater Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, White Cockatoo
 
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Medium Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (likely C. g. elenora)

Credit: © iStock Photo
 
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Did You Know?
Sulphur-crested Cockatoos have been known to mob raptors and have been seen dropping leafy twigs onto a pair of Bat Hawks in an attempt to drive them away!

Status in the Wild
World Population:
Thought to be in excess of 500,000.

Range:
C.g. galerita: E and SE Australia from N Queensland south to Tasmania and SE South Australia, including Kangaroo Island. Introduced to SW Australia and New Zealand.
C.g. queenslandica: Cape York Peninsula and southern Torres Strait island, N Queensland.
C.g. fitzroyi: N Australia from Kimberly division of W Australia east to Gulf of Carpentaria, N Queensland.
C.g. triton: W Papuan Islands, Indonesia and New Guinea. Introduced to Palau Islands, Micronesia, and some islands of E Moluccas, Indonesia.
C.g. eleonora: Aru Islands, Indonesia. Introduced to Kai Islands.


Habitat:
Found in variety of forest areas such as secondary growth, woodland (including swamp and riverine), mangroves, open country, agricultural land (including rice fields and palm plantations), savanna, mallee and suburban areas. Found up to 1500m (4920 ft) in parts of Australia, 2400m (7872 ft) in Papua New Guinea.

Threat Summary:
None at present; however, in spite of protection in Indonesia this species is still trapped for the wild bird trade. Is also not a protected species in Australia, therefore culls occur.

IUCN Rating:
Least concern

Wild Diet:
Forages on grasses and herbs. May take sprouting maize and wheat. Also feeds on harmful weeds such as cotton thistle. Other foods include: roots, rhizomes, nuts, berries, flowers, corms, blossoms and insect larvae.

CITES Rating:
Appendix II

Ecology:
Mostly resident, but local movements have been noted between coastal Australian islands. Faithful to roosting areas. Large groups of up to 2000 birds feed on the ground, with sentinel birds taking turns to be on the lookout for predators. Noisy and conspicuous. Most active immediately after dawn.

Clutch and Egg Size:
2 to 3 elliptical eggs, 46.5 x 33.5mm (1.8 x 1.3 in).

Breeding Season:
Australia: May-August in the north, August-January in south; New Guinea all months except April, but mostly May-December.

More Info Sites:
http://amonline.net.au/factsheets/sulphur_crested_cockatoo.htm

http://www.birdsnways.com/cockatoo/sc.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulphur-crested_Cockatoo

http://www.austmus.gov.au/factsheets/sulphur_crested_cockatoo.htm