Galah or Rose-breasted Cockatoos / Roseate
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Overview:
Kindly provided by Dr. Rob Marshall
These well-adapted birds are found in abundance throughout central Australia. They are also becoming increasingly common towards the coastal regions.
They are usually seen in large flocks, often feeding with Sulphur Crested Cockatoos.
Galahs make wonderful, energetic pets and when trained with consistency have a good talking ability. These birds have an affectionate and bubbly personality and are extremely popular as pets.
They are very smart and enjoy human company, loving to learn new tricks and impress their owner. Being well adapted to the dry conditions of central Australia, the Galah is a hardy and robust bird that adjusts well to climatic changes.
They are also keen chewers and require toys or other forms of boredom relief to keep them stimulated and out of trouble. Pet galahs should always be obtained as hand reared birds from aviary-bred parents and once again, males generally make better pets than females. It is not advisable to obtain a pet Galah from the wild as these birds quickly revert to their wild behaviours and become difficult birds to keep.
Disease Susceptibility
Galahs are especially prone to fat tumours and require a balanced, low fat diet and plenty of exercise as prevention.
Description:
| Chart provided by Dr. Rob Marshall - http://www.birdhealth.com.au) |
| Galah Eolophus roseicapillus |
| Size: 35cm in length |
| Pet Status: Excellent |
| Talking Ability: Good |
| Noise Level: Moderate - High |
| Lifespan: Up to 50 years |
| Breeding Ability: Excellent |
| Courtship Display: Male raises crest, waves head and struts towards female. She will utter soft, chattering noises as he approaches. |
| Number of Eggs: 3-4 eggs |
| Incubation: 28 days |
| Compatibility with other species: Poor |
| Feeding: Seed and Fruit Eaters |
| Health Programmes: Follow the Parrot Health Programme. |
| Sexing: Iris dark brown in male, pink/red in female. Surgical or DNA sexing required as juveniles. |
Typical birds are about 350mm long and weigh between 300 and 400 grams.
Owners have described the Galahs to be surprisingly "undusty" for lack of a better word. They are much less dusty than say african greys. Their pink and grey feathers feel soft to the touch.
Distribution:
The Galah, Eolophus roseicapilla, is one of the most common and widespread cockatoos. It occupies open country in almost all parts of mainland Australia. Galahs are found in all Australian states, and are absent only from the driest areas and the far north of Cape York Peninsula. They appear to have been self-introduced to Tasmania. They are common in some metropolitan areas, for example Perth and Melbourne, and common to abundant in open habitats which offer at least some scattered trees for shelter. The changes wrought by European settlement, a disaster for many species, have been highly beneficial for the Galah because of the clearing of forests in fertile areas and the provision of stock watering points in arid zones.
Classification:
The classification of the Galah is difficult. It was originally placed alone in the genus Eolophus, as there are clear morphological differences between the Galah and the white cockatoos that make up genus Cacatua (though older sources place the Galah in that genus). DNA evidence, however, conflicts with this, suggesting that the Galah is most closely related to the Cockatiel. It is thought that the ancestors of the Galah, the Cockatiel, and Major Mitchell's Cockatoo diverged from the main white cockatoo line at some stage prior to that group's main radiation. Aviary bred crosses of Galahs and Major Mitchells have been bred in Sydney, with the tapered wings of the Galah and the crest and colors of the Major Mitchell, as well as its plaintive cry.
Three subspecies are usually recognised. The south-eastern form, E. r. roseicapillus is clearly distinct from the paler-bodied Western Australian form, E. r. assimilis, although the extent and nature of the central hybrid zone remains undefined. Most pet birds outside Australia are the south-eastern form. The third form, E. r. kuhli, is found right across the northern part of the continent, tends to be a little smaller and is distinguished by differences in the shape of the crest and eye-ring, although its status as a true subspecies is uncertain. (Source: Wikipedia.org)
Behavior / Pet Potential:
Galahs are highly social, affectionate and friendly - and very long lived. To take a Galah as a pet is not something that should be undertaken lightly as they bond socially with their owners and may very well outlive them. They will often become a little unpredictable as they mature and require training in order to integrate them into the family as a well-behaved "members of the flock." They are extremely playful and intelligent birds that need constant stimulation: interaction, toys, branches to chew on. They are not generally noisy, apart from early morning and evening. Both sexes can become good talkers; however, their talking ability is not usually on a par with either Sulphur-crested Cockatoos or the Corellas.
Galah is also derogatory Australian slang, synonymous with 'fool' or 'idiot'. Inquiries of Australian contrymen in the '70's suggest that this is a misunderstanding. Galahs are very self-confident and have a great zest for life, and are not embarrassed by anything they may care to do or be caught doing (unlike cats). It is very common to see them hanging by one leg from telephone or power lines in a rainstorm getting soaking wet and screeching with delight. There are many reports of them tobogganing down the corrugated roofs of outback buildings.
Training and Behavioral Guidance:
Cockatoos certainly demand a lot of attention, but are appreciated for their exceptionally loving, devoted personality that is second to none. Cockatoos require an extremely dedicated owner who is willing to provide significant and meaningful attention to these intelligent parrots. They require consistent training from a young age to ensure potential cockatoo owners enjoy a bird free of destructive and annoying habits. Behavioral challenges that cockatoos present include:
- Excessive Chewing: Any parrot will chew. In nature, they use their beak to "customize" their favorite tree, to enlarge the size of their nest in a tree hollow. Doing this keeps their beaks in good condition. The problem is excessive and undesirable chewing. Undisciplined cockatoos will chew on electric wiring potentially causing house fires. The owner needs to provide plenty of "healthy" chewing opportunities (bird toys, natural wood branches, etc.) and training is necessary to teach a cockatoo what is "off-limits."
- Biting: Cockatoos, as most parrots, are likely to discover their beaks as a method of "disciplining us" once they are out of the "baby stage." It really is important to learn to understand them and to guide their behavior before an undesirable behavior has been established. If this behavior is unchecked, the cockatoo is likely to be dominating the entire family, chasing and attacking their least favorite humans (usually the ones they deem to be a competitor for their human mate's affection). Training is vital to stop this destructive behavior.
- Screaming: Not everybody can tolerate the natural loud call of a cockatoo, and even though it can't (or should not) be entirely eliminated, there are ways to discourage screaming / screeching in your pet cockatoo.
Training and behavioral guidance will help your pet be the kind of companion you want it to be ...
- AvianWeb Resources: I put together web resources for you to help you understand your pet bird and properly direct him. Please visit this website for valuable tips on parrot behavior and training. If you found a way to resolve a "parrot behavioral issue" please share it with others.
- If you are, as I am, a visual learner and prefer step-by-step instructions to train your pet, I recommend:
- the Parrot Training Course to teach your parrot to:
- Stop Biting
- Perform Tricks &
- Tame ANY SIZE bird you could possibly own
- and/or try the "Teach Your Parrot to Talk" Training Course.
- the Parrot Training Course to teach your parrot to:
If you are considering one of these magnificent parrots as pets, please visit the following websites for information:
- Cockatoo General Information
- Procuring your Parrot
- BREEDERS:
- FL: Gene & Olga's Birds, Sunshine International Market, 1941 S. Military Trail, West Palm Beach, FL 33406 - Tel. 561-434-5435
- Bird Breeder Index
- Do you breed this species and would like to be listed? Click here to see your options.
- BREEDERS:
- The 3 Key Elements to Keep Your Pet Bird Happy & Healthy
- Housing Your Bird
- Bird Nutrition
- Parrot Products
Taxonomy:
Genus: English: Roseate Cockatoos ... Dutch: Rose Kakatoes ... German: Rosakakadus ... French: Cacatoès rosalbin
Species: Scientific: Eolophus roseicapillus roseicapillus aka Cacatua roseicapilla roseicapilla ... English: Galah, Rose-breasted Cockatoos, Roseate Cockatoos ... Dutch: Rosé Kakatoe ... German: Rosakakadu ... French: Cacatoès rosalbin
Sub-Species: kuhli, assimilis, roseicapillus
CITES II - Endangered Species
Distribution: Australia
Sub-Species:
Western Galah / Roseate Cockatoos:
Genus: Scientific: Eolophus ... English: Roseate Cockatoos ... Dutch: Rose Kakatoes ... German: Rosakakadus ... French: Cacatoès rosalbin
Species: Scientific: Eolophus roseicapillus assimilis aka Cacatoes roseicapilla assimilis ... English: Western Galah, Western Roseate Cockatoos ...Dutch: Westelijke Rosé Kakatoe ... German: Westlicher Rosakakadu ... French: Cacatoès rosalbin pâle
CITES II - Endangered Species
If you would like to add to or correct any of the above information, or would like to share with the AvianWeb visitors your own experiences, please e-mail the AvianWeb Webmaster.
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