A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Cacatua galerita
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. 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 well known for their forward-curving sulphur crests which can be used to show off their moods. They 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.
They inhabit a wide area of Australia along the coastal regions from North to East to South and can withstand a wide range of climate conditions.
Species that feed on the ground are very vulnerable to predator attack. The Cockatoo has evolved a behavioural adaptation to protect against this: whenever there is a flock on the ground, there is at least one high up in a tree (usually a dead tree), keeping guard. This is so well-known that it has even entered Australian slang: a person keeping guard for sudden police raids on illegal gambling gatherings is referred to as a Cockatoo or Cocky for short.
Is it odd to think of a bird so common to you is so dear and kept as a pet elsewhere?
@shebebusynow, In Australia, one often sees flocks of these birds in the wild. Actually one usually hears them before they appear as they have a very loud, screeching call.
I think I've seen the sulphur-crested most often as a pet; their snow-white coat is pretty distinctive, along with their crest.
@ shebebusynow, Martini has clarified the ID of this bird and given a link to show the difference between this bird and a cocktiel. You may be interested...
The cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) is a small grey crested parrot with red cheeks. http://www.dicts.info/picture-dictionary...
The sulphur crested cockatoo (Cacatua galerita) is large and gregarious parrot.
Both are native to Australia but kept as pets, and in Zoos worldwide.
It sure looks like the cockatiels I've seen in captivity, but not like the wild types that I see on the web, which are more gray, or have an orange cheek.