Sulfur-Crested Cockatoo

Scientific Name: Cacatua galerita

How to identify a sulfur-crested cockatoo

The Sulfur-crested cockatoo is a large and white parrot with a distinctive yellow crest on top of its head which it can raise or leave folded down. Its beak is dark grey-black. The underside of the wings and tail is a paler yellow. Females and males look the same but females have red tinted brown eyes, while the eyes of males are darker brown.

Where are sulfur-crested cockatoos commonly found?

Sulfur-Crested Cockatoos live in areas with trees, such as tropical and subtropical rainforests. The vast savannas in northern Australia are also their home. They can be found in suburban areas, particularly in parks and gardens.

Why are sulfur-crested cockatoos considered a pest?

Sulfur-Crested Cockatoos are considered a pest due to their destructive tendancies.

What is the biology and lifecycle of a sulfur-crested cockatoo?

Sulfur-Crested Cockatoos are monogamous. Breeding season in the north is May-September but in the south it is August-January. They have one clutch a year with 2-3 eggs. Lifespan is 40-100 years.

Management Tips for Sulfur-Crested Cockatoo

To effectively protect a building from a bird problem, it often requires a combination of products.  Take into account the following in designing your bird protection system:

• Bird species/pressure

• Building structure

• Location of problem

• Installation issues

• Durability requirements

• Aesthetic requirements

• Safety/environmental concerns

• Cost

A wide range of bird protection systems are available to effectively protect a building from a bird problem with various different methods:

Area exclusions - When installed correctly, bird netting provides the most complete, humane and durable system for bird exclusion.

Ledge exclusion - Large Birds: A system of spikes, wires and spiders can be utilised to discourage birds from landing on ledges. All Birds: a system of slopes and shock systems can be utilised.

Scare devices - A variety of scarer and repeller devices are available

Traps - For humane and safe removal of birds, particularly in sensitive areas

Solar panel protection - Solar panel exclusion kits are designed to prevent nesting under solar arrays - avoids expensive damage and reduction in efficiency due to bird droppings on panels.

Disease protection - PX Ornikill can be used as a clean up product and disease protection treatment, kill a range of disease organisms associated with pest birds such as ornithosis and psittacosis.