Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo

The Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita) is a large, intelligent white parrot native to Australia, New Guinea, and parts of Indonesia, famous for its vibrant yellow crest and deafening screeching call.

Quick Facts

Size: 45 to 50 cm (18–20 inches) long

Weight: 700 to 1,000 g (1.5–2.2 lbs)

Lifespan: 20–40 years in the wild (up to 80+ years in captivity)

Diet: Seeds, nuts, fruits, roots, and insects

Conservation Status: Least Concern

Physical Appearance and Behavior

• Plumage: Covered in brilliant white feathers with a pale yellow wash on the undersides of their wings and tail.
• Crest: Features a distinctive recurved sulphur-yellow crest that raises or flattens depending on the bird's mood, excitement, or alarm.
• Bill and Eyes: Equipped with a strong, dark grey-black hooked beak and expressive eyes surrounded by pale skin. Males have dark brown eyes, while females possess red-brown eyes.
• Social Structure: Highly social birds that gather in noisy flocks ranging from a dozen to several hundred individuals. They often post lookouts while foraging on the ground.

Habitat and Urban Adaptation

• Natural Range: Found across northern and eastern Australia, New Guinea, and adjacent Indonesian islands. They have also been introduced to New Zealand.
• Urban Presence: They adapt exceptionally well to human settlements and can be seen thriving in suburban parks, city gardens, and farmlands, occasionally opening wheelie bins or foraging in large flocks.