NL·0306Herbarium of the Nature Library
- Name
- Eolophus roseicapilla
- Family
- Cacatuidae
- Native to
- Across mainland Australia; introduced to Tasmania
- Habitat
- Grassland, Savanna, Farmland, Urban
On eBird ↗
Galah
Live sightings near you, the range map, bar charts of when it is seen, and Macaulay Library photos and recordings.
Galah
Eolophus roseicapilla
Also calledGilaa (Yuwaalaraay / Gamilaraay) · Rose-breasted cockatoo (English) · Cacatoès rosalbin (French)
A pink-and-grey cockatoo of inland Australia, abundant and gregarious. It has spread with farming and watering points to occupy nearly the entire continent.
The galah, less commonly known as the pink and grey cockatoo, galah cockatoo, or rose-breasted cockatoo, is an Australian species of cockatoo and the only member of the genus Eolophus. The galah is adapted to a wide variety of modified and unmodified habitats and is one of Australia's most abundant and widespread bird species. The species is endemic to mainland Australia. It was introduced to Tasmania, where it is now widespread, in the mid-20th century and much more recently to New Zealand. Wikipedia
What it can do
- iExpanded its range greatly with land clearing, crops and artificial water
- iiForms long-lasting pair bonds
- iiiHighly social, roosting in large flocks and performing acrobatics on wires
In the field
Field marks
- aDeep rose-pink face, neck and underparts
- bGrey back and wings
- cPale pink crown with a short crest
- dPale bill
- ePale grey rump in flight
- Voice
- Shrill, high-pitched 'chet' or 'chee' screeches.
- Not to be confused with
- Major Mitchell's (pink) cockatoo is white and salmon-pink, with a tall red-and-yellow banded crest.
- Where to see it
- Almost anywhere in Australia; country towns, sports fields and farmland
- When
- Resident
Listen
Looking for field recordings…
Life & habits
- Diet
- Seeds, grain, roots and shoots
- Habitat
- Open country, farmland, parks and towns
- Size
- About 35 cm; 300–400 g
- Lifespan
- Can exceed 40 years in captivity
Flocks hang upside down, swing on wires and roll in the rain, behaviour widely described as play.
Where it lives
Recorded sightings
—
geo-referenced records in GBIF, from museums, herbaria and field observers.
Native range
Across mainland Australia; introduced to Tasmania
Drag the globe to turn it. Dots are where records exist, not a range map; darker means more records.
In the stacks
Searching the stacks…
Every page naming Eolophus roseicapilla in the Biodiversity Heritage Library →
Marginalia
The name 'galah' comes from the Yuwaalaraay word gilaa. In Australian slang, 'galah' means a fool or loudmouth.
Curiosity
Galahs often pair for life, and both partners share incubation and chick-rearing.
Kinship
- kingdomAnimalia
- ›phylumChordata
- ›subphylumVertebrata
- ›classAves
- ›orderPsittaciformes
- ›familyCacatuidae
- ›genusEolophus
Neighbours on the shelf
Photographs: iNaturalist contributors under the licences shown. Records: GBIF.org. Historical plates: Source Library (CC BY-SA 4.0; originals public domain). Summary text: Nature Library editors and Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Medicinal and edibility notes are historical and educational, not advice. iNaturalist taxon 144560.