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Galah (also known as Rose-breasted Cockatoo or Pink-and-grey Cockatoo)
Contour feather or semiplume with distinctive pink crest or underbody coloration

Galah (also known as Rose-breasted Cockatoo or Pink-and-grey Cockatoo)

Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Class: Aves, Order: Psittaciformes, Family: Cacatuidae, Genus: Eolophus, Species: E. roseicapilla

Family: Cacatuidae (Cockatoos)

Shape
Symmetrical, rounded tip with a soft, fluffy outline characteristic of Australian parrot contour feathers
Size
Approximately 1.5 to 2 inches long, typical of a small body or crest feather from a medium-sized cockatoo
Rarity
Very Common and abundant throughout its natural Australian range
Learn more about Galah (also known as Rose-breasted Cockatoo or Pink-and-grey Cockatoo) in the encyclopedia →

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Description

The Galah is one of Australia's most familiar and sociable cockatoos, easily recognized by its striking pink and grey plumage and lively, acrobatic aerial displays. They possess a pale pink crest, grey back and wings, and a bright pink face and underparts. Highly intelligent and gregarious, they often gather in large, noisy flocks.

Colour & Pattern

Striking bicolored pattern featuring a soft grey base transitioning to a vibrant, pale pink or salmon-pink tip, typical of Galah plumage

Barb Structure

Plumulaceous at the base with loosely connected barbs, becoming slightly more pennaceous toward the distinctively colored tip

Texture & Surface

Soft, silky, and somewhat fluffy in texture with a matte surface, lacking the rigid interlocked structure of flight feathers

Key Features

Distinctive bicolored combination of neutral grey grading directly into a bright rosy-pink tip on a soft, rounded contour feather

Habitat

Open country, lightly timbered plains, agricultural lands, and urban areas across mainland Australia

Geographic Range

Endemic to Australia, widely distributed across the mainland, absent only in the most arid deserts and dense tropical rainforests

Ecological Role

Acts as an important seed disperser and ground forager in Australian ecosystems, though large flocks can occasionally be considered agricultural pests

Similar Species

Major Mitchell's Cockatoo (Lophochroa leadbeateri), which features deeper pink coloration and a prominent barred crest, and other Australian parrot species

Interesting Facts

Galahs are known for forming lifelong pair bonds and engaging in playful, acrobatic flight rolls. Their populations have actually boomed with the introduction of European agriculture due to increased water and grain availability.

Condition Notes

Good overall condition with minor natural curvature of the flexible rachis and intact barbs