Gang Gang Cockatoo
callocephalon fimbriatum

Length:  32-37cms/13-14 inches

Weight: 250-275 grams

Life span: 60+ years

Incubation: 25-26 days

Age at weaning: 10-12 weeks

Age at maturity: 2-3 years

Natural habitat: South East Australia

Gang Gang Cockatoos are endemic to South East Australia and they can be found in mountain forests and woodlands in the summer, moving down to the lower forests in the winter.  Naturally quiet birds you can often walk right up to them and not know they are there, out of the breeding season you can see them flying out in small flocks but during the breeding season they are seen in pairs or family groups. 

They diet consists of tree seeds, Eucalyptus being a favourite, wattles, hawthorn berries, fruit, nuts and insects.

They nest in hollows high up in trees, the female usually choosing the nesting hollow, both birds prepare the nest by lining it with chewed wood chips.  A normal clutch is 2 eggs and both birds will incubate them.  Once fledged, at around eight weeks, the youngsters will still be fed by the parents and they will fly together as a family group for several weeks.

Gang Gang Cockatoos are dimorphic.*  The male has a red head and crest and his body is slate grey.  The females head and crest is dark grey and her body feathers are edged with pink and yellow.  Both sexes have pale grey edging to their wing feathers giving a barring effect, this is more obvious on the female as she will have some yellow edging to the feathers making the barring stand out.

* Existing or occurring in two distinct forms

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