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Little Corella

(Cacatua sanguinea)
Alternative names: "Bare-eyed Cockatoo", "Blood-stained Cockatoo"
Size: 36-39 cm

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

Little Corellas have a complex distribution across the Australian continent; for details see a field guide. Race "gymnopsis" basically populates the interior of the eastern half of the continent and the north-western part of WA, basically within a few hundred km of Exmouth, WA. At times they are also found along the east coast of the continent. Race "sanguinea" populates the northern part of the NT and the Kimberleys in WA. Along the southern tip of the Gulf of Carpentaria and the west coast of Cape York race "normantoni" is found.

Originally prevalent in semi-arid habitats, especially near inland water courses lined with River Red Gums, Little Corellas are extending their range by adapting to human activities. They are found around farms, roads and urban environments, where they find many different sources of food (seeds, but also e.g. olives).

Sightings

Narrabri, NSW, lies in an area where the habitats of Little Corella and Sulphur-crested Cockatoo overlap. Little Corellas, which are in principle cockatoos of the Australian interior, have extended their range eastwards over the past few decades. Prior to the advent of sorghum farming, in the 1950ies to 1960ies, they did not live in the Narrabri area.

These days Little Corellas, subspecies "gymnopis", are regularly found along the banks of the Namoi River, south of Narrabri, NSW. They are also found by us around reliable sources of food, such as e.g. olive groves. For that reason, Little Corellas are seen regularly at Eulah Creek, 20 km east of Narrabri, NSW, often in conjunction with Sulphur-crested Cockatoos.

We have encountered Little Corellas during a visit to the radio observatory at Parkes, NSW, in 2003. Seen also during a trip into the far west of NSW and into South Australia, towards the Flinders and Gammon Ranges in March 2008. Especially along the banks of the Darling River they were numerous at a time when rainwater runoff was flowing down the river after substantial rainfalls in southern Queensland.

In the Northern Territory, near Hogg Dam, we saw the nominate subspecies "sanguinea", which is displayed in the first photo.

In January 2011 we also spotted a few Little Corellas ("gymnopis") on the NSW north coast, at Urunga Heads. This location is on the edge of the birds' habitat; they are primarily found on the western side of the Great Dividing Range.

The distribution information for this species given in some field guides is inaccurate - we found the screamer shown in the first two photos below for subspecies "gymnopsis" at Gorokan, on the NSW Central Coast, in June 2011.

Photos

Race "sanguinea"

Flock of Little Corellas ("sanguinea") sitting in a tree near Hogg Dam, Northern Territory. One can see that there is hardly any pink between eye and bill

Race "gymnopsis"

Lateral view of a Little Corella ("gymnopsis")...

... here seen spreading its wings, exposing the prominent yellow tint

Frontal view of a Little Corella ("gymnopsis") feeding in a Californian peppertree ; the use of the upper mandible inside lower one can be seen clearly

Lateral view of the same bird; note how, while in rest, the edge of the lower mandible fits into a groove in the upper one

Rear view of a Little Corella ("gymnopsis") feeding in a Californian Peppertree ; note how the point of the upper mandible is pushed into the cavity of the lower one

This is how one reaches the fruit ; again, the use of the upper mandible inside the lower one can be seen clearly

Little Corellas ("gymnopsis") on the edge of a trough drinking on a hot summer's day (I)

Little Corellas ("gymnopsis") on the edge of a trough drinking on a hot summer's day (II)

This bird - and its mate - were observed by us at the end of winter; note the unusual pinkish-brown tint; we do not know whether this is due to old or dirty plumage or other causes

Pair of Little Corellas in flight

Filthy-looking Little Corella at the end of winter

Breeding information

Breeding season: May - Oct Eggs: 2 - 4 Incubation period: 24 days Fledging age: 42 - 56 days

The breeding season depends significantly on geographical latitude. Cockatoos are sociable creatures which often nest in loose colonies, also in conjunction with other species.

Here two Little Corellas working on the production of the next generation; this photo was taken in mid-August

Nest

Type: Tree hollow Material: Woodchips Height above ground: 5 - 25 m

The following photo shows the entrance to the nesting hollow of a pair of Little Corellas.

Little Corellas' ("gymnopsis") version of "home, sweet home"...

Eggs

Size: 35 x 25 mm Colour: White Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal Mobility: Dispersive/sedentary Elementary unit: Flock

Little Corellas are very sociable birds who prefer to live in large numbers.

As shown in the photo below, often seen by us together with Sulphur-crested Cockatoos.

Small flock of Little Corellas feeding

"Little Corella tree" 15 km east of Narrabri

This photo shows a flock of about 500-700 Little Corellas in flight

An example of peaceful (although not always quiet) co-habitation - a flock of Little Corellas ("gymnopsis"), together with Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, on the banks of the Namoi River near Boggabri, NSW

Here an example of playful behaviour

Little Corellas playing silly buggers...

Food

Like basically all cockatoos, Little Corellas are seed-eaters, where seeds include those in cones and nut-like fruit, for example those of Acacea Salicina (see below). They also take grass seeds (and commercial crops).

Little Corellas raiding the wattle trees at the back of our property

Here one of the food sources of Little Corellas: the fruit of an Acacia Salicina tree

This one and its mates were feasting on the seeds of a lemon-scented gumtree