Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo
Cacatua galerita
Habitat
Ground
Diet
PlantSeed
Active Time
Diurnal
Size
720 g
About This Species
Loud, gregarious and unmistakable, this large white cockatoo is usually found in noisy flocks feeding on the ground or in trees at forest edges, parks and farmland. Its raucous screeching calls typically announce its presence before it is seen, and early morning and late afternoon are peak feeding times. It is common and conspicuous year-round in suitable habitat, particularly around eucalypt woodland and urban green spaces.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- Keep a comfortable distance of at least several metres, since flushed flocks can be very loud and disruptive to other wildlife nearby, and never offer food, which encourages dependency and unnatural behaviour.
- This species is protected under wildlife legislation in its native range, and deliberate feeding or harassment is discouraged or restricted in many areas.
- Watching a feeding flock quietly from a bench or path gives excellent views without disturbance.
LCAvesPsittaciformesPsittacidae
Seasonal Activity
1,162,733 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Psittaciformes
- Family
- Psittacidae
Traits
- Diet
- PlantSeed
- Foraging
- Ground
- Activity
- Diurnal
- Body mass
- 720 g
Photo
(c) anthonypaul, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by anthonypaul
CC-BY-NC-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.