Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

Description:

Known as white cocky, white cockatoo. Often kept as a pet in a cage & can outlive its owner by decades! Often in large flocks as these were, call is loud especially when a flock calls together, squawks, shrill notes can be deafening; male & female similar white colouring with yellow smudges of colour on wings (crest which is raised when alarmed), eye colouring can distinguish male from female; feeds on seed, nuts, grains either direct from the ground or from the trees or plants, can be destructive to growing plants. An active & 'chatty' species, prone to temper tantrums observed in the wild or in captivity, wary of unusual activity in its environment.

Habitat:

Found throughout eastern Australia, north & south-east, Tasmania & a patch in WA, in woodland, open country, farmland & forested areas of varying density. These ones near dry woodland forest area on edge of cropping area.

Notes:

I worked in a zoo environment where unwanted pet white cockies were 'retired' to. Some were many decades old, some also had been mistreated & had become aggressive. It was always a risk entering the enclosure to feed, clean or administer medication. Several times the hems of my trousers & parts of boots were torn to shreds by the angry cockies' powerful beaks.