Bird of the month: Gang Gang Cockatoo
Posted on 21 February, 2023 by Ivan
Welcome to Bird of the month, a partnership between Connecting Country and BirdLife Castlemaine District. Each month we’re taking a close look at one special local bird species. We’re excited to join forces to deliver you a different bird each month, seasonally adjusted, and welcome suggestions from the community. We are blessed to have the brilliant Jane Rusden and Damian Kelly from BirdLife Castlemaine District writing about our next bird of the month, accompanied by Janes’s stunning photos.
Gang Gang Cockatoo (Callocephalon fimbriatum)
Unlike other members of the cockatoo family who stand out with their colour and raucous noise, the Gang Gang can be quite unobtrusive with its overall grey plumage. Males can be distinguished by their distinctive red head with its wispy crest. Taxonomically they are in a separate genus from the other cockatoos (Callocephalon). In spite of their colour, they are more closely related to Galahs than they are to the Black Cockatoos. There have been a few isolated examples of hybridisation with Galah and one with a Little Corella.
And as an inhabitant of the forests, it is often heard before it is seen. One of its distinctive calls is a creaking sound that identifies it easily. Although they often move about in groups, unlike the other more noisy cockatoos they are often fairly quiet. At times they just feed quietly on gum nuts in the upper foliage and you only notice them from the sound of the pattering of gum nut fragments as you walk underneath.
A female Gang Gang Cockatoo, perching on dead timber. Photo: Jan Rusden
Gang Gangs are confined to southern Victoria and south-east New South Wales, usually in the highlands and adjacent moist coastal areas. There is some altitudinal movement from the higher areas to lower regions in autumn and then they can be seen in the drier, more open woodlands. At times they can be found in urban areas in Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra wherever there are sufficient eucalypts. Like many of our native species, they have adapted to changes in habitat and food supplies.
Seeds of many forest eucalypts and acacias make up most of their diet, but they will also eat other plant material and insects. Like many species, they have also adapted to eating the fruits of a variety of introduced species such as the berries of the hawthorn bush as well as fruit trees and flocks will congregate in suitable areas. Apple orchards in particular can attract them and damage may be caused at times.
The male is grey with a bright red head whilst the female could be mistaken for a galah. Photo: Jane Rusden
Breeding usually takes place between October and January. Nests are in tree hollows, usually high up. Females, with their string beaks, will often excavate a deeper hollow. Normally 2-3 eggs are laid and both parents do the incubation and feeding.
They are uncommon in the drier areas closer to Castlemaine, but they are recorded occasionally with recent records at Guildford, Yandoit and Mount Alexander. You are more likely to see them in the wetter forests such as around Daylesford and Trentham.
To listen to the call of the Gang Gang Cockatoo – click here
Jane Rusden
Damian Kelly
There is a flock of around 8 on Post Office Hill reserve, Chewton of late.
great news Joel! keep up the observations
thanks for this article ,i have never seen them before this morning at the back of my place on the fryers creek a flock of about 15 unmistakeable
Thanks Alan, wonderful to hear!
Thanks for this article. I saw a small flock on my property in Chewton a few weeks ago!
wonderful, thanks Lily, please post any photos here!