Eolophus roseicapilla
Galah
The Galah is a striking medium-sized cockatoo with distinctive pink and grey plumage. Its head, neck, and underparts are a soft pink, contrasting beautifully with the pale grey back, wings, and tail. The crest is white with a hint of pink.
Both sexes look similar, though males may have slightly darker brown eyes (sometimes black), whereas females' irises can be mid-brown or red. Juveniles are duller in colour, with a greyish breast and shorter crest.
Length
35cm to 38cm
Wingspan
70cm to 90cm
Weight
270g to 350g
Males and females have similar plumage
Primary Colour
Pink Grey
Secondary Colour
White
Beak Colour
White
Leg Colour
Grey
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
Galahs are native to Australia and found across most of the mainland except for the driest desert regions and some tropical areas of the far north. They inhabit a wide range of open habitats, including grasslands, open woodlands, farmland, and urban areas.
While primarily sedentary, Galahs may make local movements in response to food availability and seasonal changes. They have adapted well to human-modified landscapes and are common in many Australian cities and towns.
Up to 1,000 meters
Arid, Subtropical, Temperate
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Galahs are primarily herbivorous, feeding on a variety of seeds, grains, fruits, and nuts. They forage both on the ground and in trees, using their strong beaks to crack open tough seeds and nuts.
In agricultural areas, they may feed on crops, particularly wheat and oats.
Galahs are highly social birds, often seen in large flocks, especially when feeding on the ground. They are known for their playful behaviour, often hanging upside down on branches or performing acrobatic flight displays.
During the hotter parts of the day, they often rest in the shade of trees, becoming more active in the cooler hours.
Galahs are known for their loud, raucous calls, often described as a screeching 'chet-chet' or 'chi-chi'. They also produce a variety of softer chattering and warbling sounds when communicating within their flock.
During courtship, males may emit a soft, gurgling call.
Galahs form monogamous pairs and breed between July and December in southern Australia and February to July in the north. They typically nest in tree hollows, often in eucalyptus trees, but may also use cliff faces or even building cavities in urban areas.
The female lays 2-5 white eggs in a nest lined with eucalyptus leaves. Both parents share incubation duties, which last about 25 days.
Chicks fledge after about 6-8 weeks but may remain with their parents for several months after leaving the nest. Young Galahs reach sexual maturity at about 4 years of age.
The Galah typically lives for 20 to 40 years, with a maximum recorded lifespan of 72.8 years.
Like all birds, lifespan can be affected by factors including predation, habitat quality, disease, and access to food sources.
While Galahs are listed as Least Concern due to their large range and population, they face localised threats from habitat loss and competition for nesting sites.
In some agricultural areas, they are considered pests due to crop damage, leading to control measures that may affect local populations.
Global Population Estimate
Not quantified, but common throughout its range
Global Population Trend
Rose-breasted Cockatoo, Pink and Grey
Main predators include large raptors such as Wedge-tailed Eagles and Peregrine Falcons, as well as introduced mammals like foxes and cats, particularly for ground-feeding birds.
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website: BirdLife International. 2018. Eolophus roseicapilla. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T22684758A131874469.
View sourcejournalArticle, 2012: Young et al., Survival on the ark: life history trends in captive parrots, Anim Conserv, 15:28-53