Sulphur-crested Cockatoos
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Sulphur-crested Cockatoos - Please also see: Greater, Eleonora, Lesser Sulphurea:
| Sulphur Crested Cockatoo Cacatua galerita |
| Size: Up to 60cm in length |
| Pet Status: Excellent |
| Talking Ability: Excellent |
| Noise Level: High |
| Lifespan: Up to 80 years |
| Breeding Ability: Good |
| Courtship Display: Male struts with bobbing motion and crest raised along branch to female. Mutual touching, preening and mating then follow. |
| Number of Eggs: 2-3 eggs |
| Incubation: 21-23 days |
| Compatibility with other species: Not recommened |
| Feeding: Seed and Fruit eaters |
| Health Programmes: Follow the Parrot Health Programme. |
| Sexing: Iris dark brown in males, reddish brown in females. Surgical or DNA sexing generally required. |
The Sulphur Crested Cockatoo is a common inhabitant of open woodland and forest along the east coast of Australia extending along the northern coast and across the seas into Papua New Guinea.
They are noisy and conspicuous birds and in the wild are wary and difficult to approach. As pets, they require a devoted owner and continuing obedience training from a young age. (Source / Permission granted from Dr. Rob Marshall - http://www.birdhealth.com.au)
The Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Cacatua galerita, is one of the larger and more widespread of Australia's cockatoos. Frequently sought as a cage bird in other countries, in Australia they can be so numerous that in crop-growing areas they are shot or poisoned as pests. Government permit is required, though, as they are a protected species under the Australian Commonwealth Law.
They can be destructive to cereal and fruit crops, as well as timber structures such as house planking and trees.
The Sulphur-crested Cockatoo is similar in appearance to the three species of corella found in Australia. Corellas are smaller, however, and lack the prominent yellow crest, there are a few regional subspecies within Australia.
Typically these birds will weigh around 800 grams and can be very loud. Their call is meant to travel through the forest environments in which they live, including tropical and subtropical rainforests. These birds are naturally curious creatures, as well as very intelligent. They have adapted very well to European settlement in Australia and live in many urban areas.
Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, along with many other parrots, are susceptible to a widespread viral disease known as Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease, which causes the birds to lose their feathers and grow grotesquely shaped beaks.
These birds range throughout the various climates in Australia, from Far North Queensland beyond the Iron Range Mountains, as well as parts of the Snowy Mountains. They are also numerous in Adelaide and Southern South Australia and can be spotted north of Perth.
These birds have been known to engage in geophagy, the process of eating clay to detoxify their food. (Source: Wikipedia.org)
Taxonomy:
Genus: Scientific: Cacatua
... English: White Black-billed Cockatoos ... Dutch: Wit
& Zwartsnavelkakatoes ... German: Eigentliche Kakadus
... French: Cacatoès 
Species: Scientific:
Cacatua sulphurea sulphurea aka Psittacus sulphureus ...
English: Sulpher-crested Cockatoos ... Dutch:
Geelkuif Kakatoe ... German: Gelbwangenkakadu ...French:
Petit Cacatoès à huppe jaune Sub-Species: eleonora, triton, fitzroyi, galerita
CITES II - Endangered Species Distribution: Celebes, Buton Island
Related Web Resources: Lexicon of Parrots ... German website (nice photos): papageien.org
Sub-species:
Eleanora Cockatoos aka Greater Sulfur Crested Cockatoos, Medium Sulphur Crested Cockatoos
Greater Sulfur Crested Cockatoos: Genus: English: White Black-billed Cockatoos ... Dutch: Wit & Zwartsnavelkakatoes ... German: Eigentliche Kakadus ... French: Cacatoès Species: Scientific: Cacatua galerita galerita aka Psittacus galeritus ... English: Greater Sulphur-crested Cockatoos ... Dutch: Grote Geelkuifkakatoe ... German: Großer Gelbhaubenkakadu ... French: Grand Cacatoès à huppe jaune
CITES II - Endangered Species Distribution: South-eastern Australia, Tasmania
Middle Sulphur-crested Cockatoos: Genus: English: White Black-billed Cockatoos ... Dutch: Wit & Zwartsnavelkakatoes ... German: Eigentliche Kakadus ... French: Cacatoès Species: Scientific: Cacatua sulphurea djampeana ... English: Middle Sulphur-crested Cockatoos ...Dutch: Middelste Geelkuifkakatoe ... German: Mittlerer Gelbhaubenkakadu ... French: Petit Cacatoès à huppe jaune de Djampea
CITES II - Endangered Species Distribution: Islands of Alor, Pantar, Djampea, Kalao tua, Madu and Kaju adi, Tukangbesi
Timor Cockatoos / Timor Sulphur-crested Cockatoos
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