Rosellas and cockatoos in the Australian capital

Even on a winter day in Australia’s capital, Canberra, sulphur-crested cockatoos and crimson rosellas are often seen.

Sulphur-crested cockatoos (Cacatua galerita) are large white-feathered birds, native to Australia, with grey feet, black beaks, and yellow crests. They are about 44-55 cm (17-22 inches) tall. Males and females look similar. They can live up to 70 years in captivity, but only 20-40 years in the wild. Females nest in trees and lay 2-3 eggs which take about 27 days to hatch. Both parents keep the eggs warm and raise the nestlings until they can fly (usually 9-12 weeks).

Crimson rosellas (Platycercus elegans) are parrots native to eastern and south-eastern Australia, mainly in forests and gardens. They are medium-sized at 36cm (14 inches) with long tails. They have brilliant red chests with bright blue wings and blue cheeks. Males are a little larger than females, but the young can be different colours (often greenish) until they gain their adult red and blue feathers.

Rosellas are not migratory birds, so they will stay around the same region and not travel far. They like to travel in pairs (and not in groups like sulphur-crested cockatoos). When they mate, they stay with the same partner for life. Nesting sites are hollow tree trunks, limbs, and stumps selected by the female. Females lay 3-8 shiny white eggs and have an average incubation period of 20 days. Only females keep the eggs warm.

Both rosellas and sulphur-crested cockatoos eat fruit, seeds, nectar, berries, and nuts from a wide variety of plants. Often they will also eat insects, including termites, aphids, beetles, weevils, caterpillars, and moths.

MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

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