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Major Mitchell's CockatooAlternative names: "Pink Cockatoo", "Wee Juggler", "Leadbeater's Cockatoo" Aboriginal name: "gugalarrin" [yuwaalaraay] Size: 35-40 cm |
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Habitat |
(for details refer to a field guide) |
Major Mitchell's Cockatoos are found mostly in inland NSW, VIC and QLD, basically across the Murray-Darling Basin. They also occur throughout most of SA and in the southern central NT. There are only a few scattered locations in WA where they can be found. They do not occur anywhere north of the tropic of Capricorn, nowhere along the east coast and not in Tasmania either.
Major Mitchell's Cockatoos are often found in mulga- or mallee-type country. They have a preference for Murray Pine and Casuarinas, where they are often found feeding on the seeds.
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Sightings |
Major Mitchell's Cockatoos have for the first time been spotted by us in the wild on a trip to outback western NSW in March 2008. There were two independent sightings both westward of Brewarrina, in the Darling River floodplains, but no possibilities of taking photos yet. The photos presented below were taken in captivity, with kind permission of the breeder.
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Photos |
Three Major Mitchell's Cockatoos, with a female displaying
its crest
Major Mitchell's Cockatoo displaying its crest
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Behaviour |
| Social behaviour: Communal | Mobility: Sedentary/dispersive | Elementary unit: Small flock |
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Food |
Like basically all cockatoos, Major Mitchell's Cockatoos are seed-eaters, where seeds include those in cones and nut-like fruit.
