About
The Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo is a large, striking white parrot known for its bright yellow crest and its loud, far-carrying call.
Parrots
Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo
Cacatua galerita
A white cockatoo with a bright yellow crest, gentle and friendly with guests.
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Psittaciformes
- Family
- Cacatuidae
At a Glance
Quick Facts
- Life Span
- 40 - 60 years, sometimes longer
- Size
- About 44 - 55 cm long
- Diet
- Omnivore - seeds, fruit, nuts, and roots
- Habitat
- Forest, woodland, farmland, and urban parks
- Native Range
- Australia, New Guinea, and nearby islands
- Trivia
- Known for its loud call and bright yellow crest, raised when excited.
Bright, Bold, and Loud
The Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo is a large white parrot instantly recognizable by the bright yellow crest it raises when alert or excited, along with matching yellow feathers under its wings and tail. Its call is loud and far-reaching, a trait that helps flocks stay in contact across open habitat.
Diet and Habitat
This cockatoo is an adaptable, opportunistic eater, feeding on seeds, fruit, nuts, and roots, and it will dig at the ground with its beak to reach buried food. That same adaptability has let it thrive not just in native forest but also in farmland and urban parks.
Social and Family Life
Sulphur-Crested Cockatoos are highly social and often gather in large, noisy flocks, especially outside the breeding season. Within these flocks, pairs form tight, lasting bonds, and mates are frequently seen perched close together, preening one another.
Mini Zoo
