Sulphur-crested cockatoo
| Sulphur-crested Cockatoo | |
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| C. g. galerita in Tasmania, Australia | |
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| Species: | C. galerita
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| Binomial name | |
| Cacatua galerita Latham, 1790
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| Australian Sulphur-crested Cockatoo range (in red) | |
The Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Cacatua galerita, is a relatively large white cockatoo found in wooded habitats in Australia and New Guinea. They can be locally very numerous, leading to them sometimes being considered pests. They are very popular in aviculture.
Distribution
In Australia, Sulphur-crested Cockatoos can be found widely in the north and east, ranging as far south as Tasmania, but avoiding arid inland areas with few trees. They are numerous in suburban habitats in cities such as Adelaide and Sydney. Except for highland areas, they occur throughout most of New Guinea and on nearby smaller islands such as Waigeo, Misool, Aru, and various Cenderawasih Bay and Milne Bay islands.
There are four recognised subspecies; C. g. triton (Temminck, 1849) is found in New Guinea and the surrounding islands, C. g. elenora (Finsch, 1867) is restricted to the Aru Islands between Australia and New Guinea, C. g. fitzroyi (Mathews, 1912) in northern Australia from West Australia to the Gulf of Carpentaria and the nominate race which is found from Cape York to Tasmania.[1]
Introduced species
Within Australia, Sulphur-crested Cockatoos of the nominate race have been introduced to Perth, which is far outside the natural range. Outside Australia, they have been introduced to Singapore, where their numbers have been estimated to be between 500 and 2000. They have also been introduced to Palau and New Zealand. In New Zealand the introduced populations may number less than 1000. This species has also been recorded from various islands in Wallacea (e.g. Kai Islands and Ambon), but it is unclear if it has managed to become established there.
Description
It has a total lengh of 45–55 cm (18–22 in), with the Australian subspecies larger than subspecies from New Guinea and nearby islands. The plumage is overall white, while the underwing and -tail are tinged yellow. The expressive crest is yellow. The bill is black, the legs are grey, and the eye-ring is whitish. Males typically have almost black eyes, whereas the females have a more red or brown eye, but this require optimum viewing conditions to be seen. Th differences between ths subspecies are subtle. C. g. fitzroyi is similar to the nominate race but lacks the yellow on the ear tufts and slightly blueish skin around the eye. C. g. eleonora is similar to C. g. fitzroyi but is smaller and has broader feathers in the crest, and C. g. triton is similar to C. g. eleonora except it has a smaller bill.[1]
It is similar in appearance to the three species of corellas found in Australia. However, corellas are smaller, lack the prominent yellow crest and have pale bills. In captivity, the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo is easily confused with the smaller Yellow-crested Cockatoo or the Blue-eyed Cockatoo with a differently shaped crest and a darker blue eye-ring.
Behaviour
Their distinctive raucous call can be very loud; it is adapted to travel through the forest environments in which they live, including tropical and subtropical rainforests. These birds are naturally curious, as well as very intelligent. They have adapted very well to European settlement in Australia and live in many urban areas.
These birds are very long-lived, and can live upwards of 70 years in captivity,[citation needed] although they only live to about 20–40 years in the wild. They have been known to engage in geophagy, the process of eating clay to detoxify their food. These birds produce a very fine powder to waterproof themselves instead of oil as many other creatures do.
The Sulphur-crested Cockatoo is a seasonal breeder in Australia, little is known about its breeding behaviour in New Guinea. In southern Australia the breeding season is from August to January, whereas in northern Australia the season is from May to September.[1] The nest is a bed of woodchips in a hollow in a tree. Like many other parrots it competes with others of its species and with other species or nesting sites.[2] Two to three eggs are laid and incubation lasts between 25-27 days. Both parents incubate the eggs and raise the nestlings. The nestling period is between 9 to 12 weeks, and the young fledgelings remain with their parents for a number of months after fledging.[1]
A 2009 study involving an Eleonora Cockatoo (the subspecies Cacatua galerita eleonora) named Snowball found that Sulphur-crested Cockatoos are capable of synchronizing movements to a musical beat.[3][4]
Pest status
In some parts of Australia, the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo can be very numerous, and may cause damage to cereal and fruit crops. Consequently, they are sometimes shot or poisoned as pests. Government permit is required, as they are a protected species under the Australian Commonwealth Law.
They can also be destructive to timber structures such as house planking, garden furniture and trees.
In aviculture
Sulphur-crested Cockatoos may no longer be imported into the United States as a result of the Wild Bird Conservation Act. However, they have been bred in captivity. They are demanding pets, being very loud and having a natural desire to chew wood and other hard and organic materials.
Cocky Bennett of Tom Ugly's Point in Sydney was a celebrated Sulphur-crested Cockatoo who reached an age of 100 years or more. He had lost his feathers and was naked for much of his life, and died in the early years of the twentieth century. His body was stuffed and preserved after death.[5]
Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, along with many other parrots, are susceptible to Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease, a viral disease, which causes birds to lose their feathers and grow grotesquely shaped beaks. The disease occurs naturally in the wild,[6] and in captivity.[7]
Gallery
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Closeup of distinctive crest in raised position -
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On a balcony in Sydney, Australia -
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At Georges River in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia -
Mount Nebo, Queensland, Australia -
In flight, Cheltenham, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia -
Hotel balcony in Hamilton Island, Queensland, Australia
Paintings
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An apparent Sulphur-crested Cockatoo in a painting by Andrea Mantegna, 1496 - over a hundred years before the first recorded European sighting of the Australian continent. Although widely cited as evidence of early visitation to Australia, the bird depicted is almost certainly a Yellow-crested Cockatoo from Indonesia. -
Two Sulphur-crested Cockatoos in a painting by Melchior de Hondecoeter, second half of 17th Century. As in the Mantegna painting, and also considering the warm yellow to orange hues of the crest of the upper bird, the yellowish cheeks of the lower bird, and the fact that many of the other birds are Indonesian, these parrots are also Yellow-crested Cockatoos from Indonesia.
See also
- Eleonora Cockatoo, Cacatua galerita eleonora – a subspecies of the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo.
References
- ^ a b c d Rowley, Ian (1997), "Family Cacatuidae (Cockatoos)", in Josep, del Hoyo; Andrew, Elliott; Jordi, Sargatal (eds.), Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 4, Sandgrouse to Cuckoos, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 246–269, ISBN 84-873334-22-9
{{citation}}: Check|isbn=value: length (help) - ^ Heinsohn, Robert. "Overlap and competition for nest holes among eclectus parrots, palm cockatoos and sulphur-crested cockatoos". Australian Journal of Zoology. 51 (1): 81–94. doi:10.1071/ZO02003.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Patel, Aniruddh D. (2009). "Experimental Evidence for Synchronization to a Musical Beat in a Nonhuman Animal". Current Biology. Forthcoming. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2009.03.038.
{{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|month=and|coauthors=(help) - ^ Cockatoo Dances to the Beat on YouTube
- ^ Lendon, p. xxvi
- ^ Raidal, S. (1993). "Seroprevalence of psittacine beak and feather disease in wild psittacine birds in New South Wales". Australian Veterinary Journal. 70 (4): 137–139. doi:10.1111/j.1751-0813.1993.tb06105.x.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Kiatipattanasakul-Banlunara, W (2002). "Psittacine beak and feather disease in three captive sulphur-crested cockatoos (Cacatua galerita) in Thailand". Journal of Vetinary Medical Science. 64 (6): 527–529.
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Cited text
- Lendon, Alan H. (1973). Australian Parrots in Field and Aviary (2nd. ed). Sydney: Angus and Robertson. ISBN 0-207-12424-8.
Further reading
- Template:IUCN2006 Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
- Flegg, Jim (2002). Birds of Australia: Photographic Field Guide. Sydney: Reed New Holland. ISBN 1-876334-78-9.
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External links
- ParrotScience - cockatoo heavy information site. Video of geophagy in Australia
- mytoos.com - information on cockatoos in captivity
- Sulphur-crested Cockatoo videos, photos & sounds on the Internet Bird Collection
- Oldest known cockatoo
- Photograph of "Cocky" Bennett, 115 years old in this photo
- A tale of two cockies A heartwarming photo-story of an injured female and the devoted male that opened her cage
- Photo of a group of very noisy sulphur-crested cockatoos in Double Bay (Sydney), New South Wales, Australia
