![]() Sulphur-crested cockatoos are widely distributed throughout open timbered country in northern, eastern and southeastern mainland Australia, as well as Tasmania and several smaller offshore islands. Like other parrots, pet cockatoos can mimic all sorts of sounds, learning to imitate human speech, barking dogs, power tools, and other household noises. In flocks of over a hundred birds, jostling for a perch among the trees, these cries can become deafening. When flying home to their evening roost, they call loudly and incessantly, making a grating, querulous cawing noise. If they spot a predator such as a large kite or a snake, they give a harsh, explosive cry of warning, and the other birds will immediately take to the air, squealing and screeching hoarsely in a cacophony of protest.īirds that are at rest, moving among the branches high in a tree, nipping off leaves and twigs, often make a high-pitched screeching cry, like badly worn wheel bearings. While a flock is feeding, a few birds will remain in the tops of the trees, on the lookout for danger. They have a variety of calls, none of them pretty. Sulphur-crested cockatoos are not the most melodious birds in the Australian bush. ![]() Males have slightly larger heads, and stand taller than females, but the birds have to be seen in pairs for this difference to be noticeable. From a distance, eyes of all birds look black. Males and females look alike only up close and in strong light can it be noticed that the eye of the female has a lighter, reddish-coloured iris. As in all parrots, there are two forward-facing toes, and two rear-facing toes. The feet are also dark grey with black claws. A bird with a shiny black beak is generally unhealthy, possibly a victim of psittacine beak and feather virus. Like all parrots, the sulphur-crested cockatoo has a powerful beak the beak is black but appears grey because of the powdering of white dust used for grooming its feathers.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |