The galah is also known as the pink and grey cockatoo or rose-breasted cockatoo is the only species within genus Eolophus of the cockatoo family. Found throughout Australia, it is among the most common of cockatoos. With its distinctive pink and grey plumage and its bold and loud behavior, it is a familiar sight in the wild and increasingly in urban areas. It has benefited from the change in the landscape since European colonization and appears to be replacing Major Mitchell's cockatoo in parts of its range.

Behavior

The galah is often found in flocks of 10 to 1,000 individuals. These can be mixed flocks, the members of which may include Major Mitchell's cockatoo, the little corella, and the sulfur-crested cockatoo. The galah readily hybridizes with all of these species (see below).[10] Flocks of galahs often congregate and forage on the ground for food in open, grassy areas. Flocks of independent juvenile galahs will often disperse from their birth flock haphazardly. The galah feeds on seeds gathered on the ground, mainly feeding in the morning and late afternoon. Idly, it will strip leaves and barks from trees, and large flocks have been observed to kill trees through defoliation.

Breeding

Female E. r. albiceps displaying her crest outside her nest in Tasmania, Australia

The galah nests in tree cavities. The eggs are white, usually two to five in a clutch. The eggs are incubated for about 25 days, and the male and female share the incubation. The chicks leave the nest about 49 days after hatching

Lifespan

Living in captivity, galahs have been recorded reaching up to 72 years of age[12] when a good-quality diet is strictly followed. They socialize adequately and can engage playfully in entertainment activities to support the overall very intelligent nature of the bird. In their natural habitat, galahs are unlikely to reach the age of 20 years, falling victim to traffic, predators such as the little eagle and black and peregrine falcons, and human activities in some agricultural areas. Like most other cockatoos, galahs create strong, lifelong bonds with their partners.