Galah

The Galah is a striking medium-sized cockatoo with distinctive pink and grey plumage. Its head, neck, and underparts are a soft pink, contrasting beautifully with the pale grey back, wings, and tail. The crest is white with a hint of pink.

Both sexes look similar, though males may have slightly darker brown eyes (sometimes black), whereas females' irises can be mid-brown or red. Juveniles are duller in colour, with a greyish breast and shorter crest.

Galahs are known for their loud, raucous calls, often described as a screeching 'chet-chet' or 'chi-chi'. They also produce a variety of softer chattering and warbling sounds when communicating within their flock.

During courtship, males may emit a soft, gurgling call.

• Look for Galahs in open woodlands, grasslands, and urban parks, especially near water sources.
• Listen for their distinctive loud, screeching call, often heard during flight.
• Observe them in the early morning or late afternoon when they are most active.
• In Australia, check farmland areas where they often feed on grain.

Galahs are primarily herbivorous, feeding on a variety of seeds, grains, fruits, and nuts. They forage both on the ground and in trees, using their strong beaks to crack open tough seeds and nuts.

In agricultural areas, they may feed on crops, particularly wheat and oats.

Galahs form monogamous pairs and breed between July and December in southern Australia and February to July in the north. They typically nest in tree hollows, often in eucalyptus trees, but may also use cliff faces or even building cavities in urban areas.

The female lays 2-5 white eggs in a nest lined with eucalyptus leaves. Both parents share incubation duties, which last about 25 days.

Chicks fledge after about 6-8 weeks but may remain with their parents for several months after leaving the nest. Young Galahs reach sexual maturity at about 4 years of age.

Galahs are highly social birds, often seen in large flocks, especially when feeding on the ground. They are known for their playful behaviour, often hanging upside down on branches or performing acrobatic flight displays.

During the hotter parts of the day, they often rest in the shade of trees, becoming more active in the cooler hours.

While Galahs are listed as Least Concern due to their large range and population, they face localised threats from habitat loss and competition for nesting sites.

In some agricultural areas, they are considered pests due to crop damage, leading to control measures that may affect local populations.