Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

1. Brilliant sulfur-yellow crest that fans upward, especially when the bird is excited

2. Distinctive harsh, loud screech that rises slightly at the end

3. Often flies with short glides between wing beats

Breeding occurs from August to January in southern Australia and May to September in the north. Pairs nest in tree hollows lined with wood chips, where they raise 2-3 chicks. Both parents incubate the eggs and care for their young. Family groups often stay together indefinitely, joining larger flocks for feeding and roosting.

Sulphur-crested Cockatoos are abundant throughout eastern and northern Australia, with a small introduced population near Perth. Look for them in urban parks, gardens, woodland edges, and forests. They're easy to spot feeding on the ground in flocks while sentinel birds keep watch from nearby trees. Dawn and dusk are perfect times to observe them flying to feeding grounds or returning to communal roosts. Listen for their unmistakable screeching callsyou'll often hear them before you see them\!

The Sulphur-crested Cockatoo is native to Australia and has adapted remarkably well to European settlement. Known by various names in Aboriginal languages, including "Karak" and "Ngaagaak," these birds feature in Indigenous stories and art. Their ability to thrive alongside humans has made them symbolic of wild Australia persisting in modern landscapes.