Galah Eolophus roseicapilla Scientific name definitions

35–36 cm; male 345 g, female 311 g. Very distinctive medium-small cockatoo; plumage quite unlike that found in any member of closely related Cacatua, although both C. leadbeateri and C. moluccensis have varying degrees of pink suffusion. Medium-grey with deep pink face, neck, nape and underparts, and a pinkish white cap ; periophthalmic ring carunculated and larger in male; male has dark brown eye, female pink. Juvenile and immature both have brown eye. Races separated mainly on size and colour of periophthalmic ring: N race <em>kuhli</em> smaller than the other two; E race <em>albiceps</em> has crown and nape white with pink tinge only at base of feathers; periophthalmic ring greyish white in nominate, pink in other two races.

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• Galah x Little Corella (hybrid) Eolophus roseicapilla x Cacatua sanguinea

Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Originally occurred in woodland and grasslands of semi-arid and arid Australia; however, with considerable expansion of human settlement  , present species has found agricultural cropland and suburban parks suitable alternative forms of habitat, and has expanded its distribution to the coast in most places.

Sociable, and usually found in large flocks of up to 1000 birds. Large flocks flying high in tight formation appear to be able to confuse raptors successfully. When moving to foraging areas, several pairs may fly together and can travel several kilometres to a favourite feeding site. Young birds more than 100 days old tend to disperse widely, wandering in juvenile flocks; this probably aided spread of species into wheatbelt and to coast.

Cereal grains, and sunflower and sorghum seed all eaten; when nesting, prefers green seeding Erodium. Eats a wide variety of seeds gathered on the ground, usually feeding in flocks  of 10–1000 birds. When food is abundant, as in most summers, generally feeds twice a day, morning and evening, but drinks  only once; in winter, when food is in short supply, birds forage for most of the day. Will undo stitching on bagged wheat in order to get at grain, and will fossick for undigested seeds in cattle and horse faeces. Flies strongly and very fast, and so is able to travel a long way between roost and food source.

Flight call is a short two-noted, somewhat muffled screeching “chee-chuh” or similar. When perched, vocabulary more diverse, with most notes having similar tonal quality to flight call. Alarm call a harsh husky drawn-out “khEh”.

Laying Aug–Nov throughout most of range, but earlier in N tropics. Several pairs may breed in same patch of trees within 10–80 m of each other. Thick bed of freshly cut leafy branchlets is prepared in a hollow 16–700 cm deep; these hollows defended throughout year, and most pairs  roost nearby every night. 2–6 eggs (mean 4·3), laid at intervals of 2–3 days; after 3rd or 4th egg laid, male and female incubate in turn for 22–26 days; chick has sparse pink down; nestlings  remain in the hollow for 7 weeks, and fed by both parents; for first 8–10 days they are brooded by both parents in turn; because eggs hatch asynchronously, nestlings tend to vary in size and the brood may fledge over several days; fledging averages 49 days (45–59). Fledgling able to fly competently when it leaves the nest, and is taken by parents to a crèche in a nearby patch of trees; there they are fed until all their siblings join them; whilst in crèche, they learn elements of fast, cohesive flock-flying, and perfect their landing skills, which are lacking at first; parents continue to feed their young in juvenile flocks for less than 2 months; these flocks tend to drift away from the breeding area, effectively separating young from their parents by the time they are c. 100 days old; one persistent pair flew 16 km from their nesting hollow, where they had roosted, to feed their young in a juvenile flock. Success: 82% of eggs hatch; 59% of all hatchlings fledge.

Not globally threatened. CITES II. Common and secure; distribution has increased over the last 50 years. Regarded as pests of cereal crops by farmers, and killed under permit in some areas. Trapping and nest robbing for aviary trade are commonplace, but ineffective as an agricultural control measure. The sale of easily trapped young birds and their transport to another state for sale (e.g. from South Australia to Western Australia), which unfortunately is legal, has led to some genetic confusion: birds of this species, which make bad, biting pets, are often released by their disappointed temporary owners thousands of kilometres outside their natural range, and will readily mate with local birds.