Gang-gang Cockatoo

The Gang-gang Cockatoo is a small cockatoo of cool temperate forest in southeastern Australia, notable for its scalloped gray body plumage and, in males, a striking red head with a loosely curled crest. It is generally quieter and less conspicuous than many other cockatoos until its distinctive creaky call is heard.

Body feathers in both sexes are slate-gray with pale, scalloped edging that creates a scaly, textured appearance across the back and underparts, a pattern not shared by most other cockatoos. Males show bright red feathering across the head and a wispy, thin, upward-curling crest quite different from the broader crests of other cockatoo species. Females lack the red head, instead showing gray feathering with scalloped edging extending onto the head, and a shorter, less curled crest. Flight feathers are gray with darker tips. The combination of scalloped body feathers with either a red male head or all-gray female head readily separates this species from other cockatoos.

This species shows clear sexual dimorphism, with males displaying a red head and crest while females have an entirely gray head. Juveniles resemble females initially, with young males gradually acquiring red head feathering as they mature. Molt is gradual, maintaining the scalloped body pattern year-round.

Gang-gang Cockatoos inhabit cool temperate forest, particularly at higher elevations, in southeastern Australia. Some populations move to lower elevations or more open habitats, including urban areas, during colder months, representing a partial altitudinal movement rather than long-distance migration.

This species feeds on seeds, particularly from eucalypts and introduced trees, as well as berries and other plant material, often foraging quietly in the canopy. It nests in tree hollows. Its call is a distinctive creaking or growling note, quite different from the harsh screeches of many other cockatoos, often likened to a rusty gate or cork being pulled from a bottle. Gang-gangs can be surprisingly unobtrusive despite their bright plumage, often detected by call before being seen.