Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

Predominantly white plumage with a prominent yellow crest on the head. Underneath the wings and tail can show a pale yellow wash. The eye ring is white to pale blue (males typically have a darker blackish-brown iris, while females have a reddish-brown iris, though this can be subtle).

Large size, all-white body, and the distinct bright yellow crest which is raised when excited or alarmed.

Length: 45-50 cm (18-20 inches); Wingspan: ~100 cm; Weight: 770-900 g.

A very loud, harsh, and raspy screech or alarm call that carries over long distances.

Seeds, nuts, fruits, berries, roots, flower buds, and occasionally insect larvae. Forages primarily on the ground in flocks.

Woodlands, forest edges, mangroves, agricultural land, and urban parks and gardens.

Generally resident or nomadic, forming larger flocks and moving locally in response to food availability.

Nests in tree hollows, usually near water and high off the ground. Clutch size is 2-3 white eggs, incubated by both parents.

Little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea), which is smaller, lacks the prominent yellow crest, and has bluish skin around the eye.

Acts as a seed disperser and predator of insect larvae, though large urban flocks can sometimes be considered agricultural or municipal pests.

Least Concern, with a stable or increasing population trend.

Listen for their raucous, screeching calls in suburban parks, botanical gardens, and open eucalyptus woodlands. They are quite bold and can often be approached closely in urban environments.

Sulphur-crested cockatoos are exceptionally long-lived, often surviving for over 40 to 60 years in the wild and even longer in captivity. They are also known for their problem-solving intelligence and tool use in urban settings.