Sulphur-crested cockatoo fact sheet – garraway

What is a sulphur-crested cockatoo?

The sulphur-crested cockatoo is a large native Australian bird. It is scientifically known as  Cacatua galerita  and in Darug language, garraway. They have white bodies and tails and a distinct yellow crest on their heads. They are 45 to 55 centimeters long. The crest is made of long curved feathers that are raised or lowered depending on the bird’s mood.

Male cockatoos have a solid black iris in their eye. The iris of females is a reddish brown.

Sulphur-crested cockatoos are highly intelligent animals with powerful beaks. Their beaks enable them to feed, climb and explore their environment.

These birds form a crackle of cockatoos that can consist of dozens or even hundreds of individuals. A crackle is a group of cockatoos. They are highly social communicating with loud calls and displays and can often be seen playing together.

Sulphur-crested cockatoos have a yellow crest on their head.

Where do sulphur-crested cockatoos live?

Sulphur-crested cockatoos live in a range of forest habitats and near some cities and towns. They will remain in the same location all year round. These unique birds are usually found along the northern and eastern areas of Australia with small populations in Western Australia.

Sulphur-crested cockatoos live in forests and bushland.

What do sulphur-crested cockatoos eat?

Sulphur-crested cockatoos usually feed in the morning and evening on seeds, nuts, berries and roots. They also feed on grass seeds and insects. Sulphur-crested cockatoos look after their beaks by biting off smaller branches and leaves from trees.

Sulphur-crested cockatoos have powerful beaks capable of opening hard woody fruits.

What adaptations do sulphur-crested cockatoos have to their environment?

Sulphur crested cockatoos use their powerful beaks to help them climb and crack open woody fruits. They have two forward facing and two rear facing toes allowing them to tightly hold branches.

The toes of sulphur-crested cockatoos enable them to strongly grip onto branches.

Sulphur-crested cockatoos live in large crackles – family groups. This social behaviour provides safety in numbers.  Individuals in a crackle also help care for each other's young.

These intelligent birds are constantly aware of possible threats. They have an individual 'lookout' to watch for threats. If a threat is present the lookout uses an alarm call to warn the rest of the crackle.

Sulphur-crested cockatoos are social animals.

Sulphur-crested cockatoos have adapted to urban environments. Using their problem solving skills they have learnt to use their beak to open rubbish bins and scavenge for food. Some even open lunch boxes left in school playgrounds.

Sulphur-crested cockatoos use their toes to hold food.

How do sulphur-crested cockatoos reproduce and what are their life stages?

Sulphur-crested cockatoos form a long lasting bond with a single partner. Nests are constructed high in tree hollows.

Breeding once a year, 2 or 3 white eggs are laid and then cared for by both parents. The eggs take around 30 days to hatch.

Young cockatoos emerge from the nest after 70 days. They will remain with their parents and family crackle for the remainder of their lifetime. These birds reach maturity at 3 years of age.

Cockatoos can live for around 40 years in the wild. In captivity they have been known to live for around 80 years.

Sulphur-crested cockatoos form strong, long lasting bonds with their mating partner.

What threats do sulphur-crested cockatoos face?

The clearing of native forests results in loss of nesting hollows and food sources fo sulphur-crested cockatoos.

Sulphur-crested cockatoos can become pests in city areas and on farms where they can damage property and crops. When pests, they are sometimes illegally poisoned or shot by humans.

Sulphur-crested cockatoos are vulnerable to a disease known as Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD) where they will lose their feathers and develop damaged beaks.

Related fact sheets

More bird fact sheets

• Bird fact sheets – overview
• Rainbow lorikeet fact sheet (another noisy parrot that uses tree hollows and urban food sources)
• Crimson rosella fact sheet (parrot using forest and garden habitats)
• Noisy miner fact sheet (urban-adapted bird that benefits from open parks and gardens)

Habitats and nesting hollows

• Tree habitats fact sheet
• Eucalypt forest fact sheet
• Field of Mars Reserve fact sheet

Food sources and food webs

• Plant fact sheets – overview (seed and nut-producing trees, shrubs and grasses)