Parrot Link

Galah Cockatoo

Galah
eolophus roseicapillus

Length: 35cm/14 inches
Weight: 280-320 grams
Life span: 40-50 years
Incubation: 25 days
Age at weaning: 9 weeks
Age at maturity: 2-3 years
Natural habitat: Australia

Typically Galahs are birds of the open grasslands and savannah woods of the interior of Australia.  They are common in many urban areas, even nesting in trees in parks and gardens.  They are often seen in flocks of several hundred birds but can also be observed in smaller flocks and pairs.  The Galah is also known as the Roseate Cockatoo.  The Galahs have quite an elaborate courtship display where the male will dance with his crest raised and head swaying from side to side.  Sometimes he will break off a twig and wave it around!

Before settling to roost for the night they enjoy their aerial aerobatics, flying swiftly through the trees or bush.  They swoop down towards the ground screeching loudly, their flight is swift with full rhythmic wing beats, they spiral down twisting and turning before landing in a tree.  A flock of these Cockatoos is quite a spectacular sight.

Their food consists of seed, grain, roots, green shoots, leaf buds and insects and their larvae.  They cause considerable damage to crops and even grain stores.  They are doubly damaging as they eat the young shoots of the wheat as well as ripening crops.  Their feeding times are morning and late afternoon.  The rest of the day is spent idling in the shade of a tree or bush, here they will spend their time stripping bark or leaves.

They nest in a hollow of a tree, usually a Eucalyptus.  They like to line the bottom of their nest with Eucalyptus leaves.  A normal clutch is 2-5 eggs.

An adult Galah Cockatoo has a pink head and chest, with their crest being a lighter pink.  They have a grey back, wings and tail, their flight feathers are a darker grey and they have a flash of pink of the underside of each wing. 

Pet Potential:  The Galah is a much easier pet than the other Cockatoo species.  They are less demanding and require less time out of the cage.  They are outgoing and playful yet will calm down enough for a head scratch.  Scratching their heads or under their beaks will make them most appreciative.  While these birds are easier to own than the other Cockatoos, they are still not for everyone, so some research is necessary before buying one.

Talking ability: Moderate

Noise level: Moderate

Cage requirements: Minimum 3 x 2.6 x 4 foot

Interesting fact: The Galah is confined to Australia.  In some states they are protected while in other states they are culled. 

Galah tales from Xotic Birds...

Cockie was our first Galah, he was about ten when he came to us.  He came over from Australia as a pet and we brought him from his owners who were going back home.  We were told he couldn't fly so he had the run of the house and garden, we would often find him cuddled up in a cardboard box with our cat, Toots, who also loved cardboard boxes.  One day we had a break in and we thought that Cockie and his mate Sarah had been stolen as their aviary door was open and they had gone.  We walked the fields and we heard Cockie calling, we called back and he flew down to us.  Guess they were wrong about him not flying!  I sat on the grass with him whilst he ran around and around calling Sarah and after a while Sarah flew to a nearby tree.  What a relief!  Sarah we caught easily but Cockie was out and about for 3 days.  We would spend hours sitting on the lawn whilst he chatted to us from the tress.  Eventually he sat on my knee long enough for me to grab him.  They now live in a colony of Galahs but I still love to hear them chatting away on a summer evening, little voices saying 'night night Cockie' and the reply 'night night Sarah'.

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