Pink Cockatoo

1. Spectacular white crest that reveals red and yellow bands when raised

2. Striking contrast between white body and pink underparts

3. Pink flash visible under wings during flight

Pink Cockatoos nest in large tree hollows during the breeding season (August-November), laying 3-4 eggs on a bed of chewed wood. Both parents share incubation duties over 26 days and cooperate in feeding their chicks. They form nomadic flocks that can wander over large areas in search of food and water, sometimes joining other cockatoo species.

Pink Cockatoos primarily inhabit inland arid and semi-arid regions of Australia. Look for them in dry woodlands, particularly in mallee country and along tree-lined watercourses where nesting hollows are available. Dawn and dusk are ideal times to spot them visiting waterholes to drink. They often feed on the ground in small flocks, so scan open areas near woodlands. Listen for their distinctive three-note creaking calla far-carrying "quee-err" sound that travels across the landscape.

The Pink Cockatoo has long been part of Australia's natural heritage, featuring in Indigenous knowledge systems across inland Australia. Also known as the "Major Mitchell's Cockatoo," it was named after explorer Sir Thomas Mitchell who documented Australia's wildlife during his expeditions in the 1830s.