![]() While it is a noisy bird that may be unsuitable for apartment living, it is comparatively quieter than other cockatoo species. When tame, it can be an affectionate and friendly bird that can learn to talk, as well as mimic other sounds heard in its environment. The galah is very common as a companion parrot or avicultural specimen around the world, although generally absent from Australian aviaries. But often they can cause damage to the trees they roost in by chewing the bark. Galahs are important for seed dispersal, which is of great importance for ecology and the evolution of plants. This species’ population is increasing today and it is classified as least concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List. Galahs are, however, considered a pest throughout most parts of Australia and can be trapped, shot, or poisoned in an effort to reduce losses to local agriculture, especially in grain-producing districts.Īccording to the IUCN Red List, the global population size of galahs has not been quantified, but the species is described as common. The galah is an abundant and widespread species, and it is not currently considered at risk of extinction. They are ready to breed when they are four years old. Young birds join large nomadic flocks with non-breeding birds until they are 2 to 3 years old. The young are independent by between 6 and 8 weeks old. For 2 to 3 more weeks they are still fed by their parents. They then leave the nest to gather in a “crèche tree”, along with other young birds. The chicks are fed at the nest by their parents for 5 to 6 weeks. Females lay between 2 and 5 white eggs, and incubation lasts around 4 weeks, shared by the parents. Often many pairs nest close to each other. Galahs nest in tree hollows or in cavities in cliffs. The breeding season in the north is from February to July, and in the south from July to December. Males display to females by strutting towards them, bobbing and waving their heads and raising their crest, giving soft calls, and also clicking their bill. Galahs are monogamous birds and pairs mate for life. ![]() Their diet may also include fruits, nuts, berries, grasses, green shoots, leaves, and barks from trees. Galahs are herbivores (granivores) and eat mainly seeds and grains they find on the ground. They fly swiftly through the treetops, twisting and turning as they swoop towards the ground, screeching as they go. They are often seen in acrobatic postures, sometimes hanging upside down, holding on by one foot only, flapping their wings, and giving a loud “scree!” At dusk, they perform further acrobatics before roosting. In hot weather, flocks spend much of their time sheltering among shrubs and trees. They often mix with other species of cockatoo. They tend to feed in either the morning or late afternoon. Highly sociable birds, galahs are often seen in huge flocks that number as many as 1,000 individuals. It also adapts well to urban areas, pastures, parks, and agricultural land, though it avoids dense forests. It occupies a range of habitats, including woodland, grassland, and shrubland. The galah lives in most parts of Australia, including some offshore islands, and it has been introduced to Tasmania. Juveniles have a wash of gray on their underparts, reaching full adult plumage when they are about a year old. ![]() The male and female can be distinguished by their eye color: dark brown for the male and red to pinkish-red for the female. It has a short crest, which it can erect, looks just like a cap when it is lowered, and ranges from white to pink. It can be distinguished easily from other cockatoos by its distinctive gray and pink plumage. It has benefited from the change in the landscape since European colonisation, and appears to be replacing the Major Mitchell's cockatoo in parts of its range.Īn unmistakable and attractive species of cockatoo, a galah is a familiar sight in much of Australia. With its distinctive pink and grey plumage and its bold and loud behaviour, it is a familiar sight in the wild and increasingly in urban areas. Found throughout Australia, it is among the most common of the cockatoos. The galah ( Eolophus roseicapilla ), also known as the pink and grey cockatoo or rose-breasted cockatoo, is the only species within genus Eolophus of the cockatoo family.
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