What is a Gang-Gang Cockatoo?

The gang-gang cockatoo, scientifically classified as Callocephalon fimbriatum , is a small member of the cockatoo bird family with a stubby tail and long wings. When fully grown, gang-gang cockatoos are about 13-14 inches (32-37 cm) in length, weigh about 8.4-11.5 ounces (240-330 g) and have a wingspan of about 24.4-30 inches (62-76 cm). In appearance, gang-gangs are dark gray and have a distinctive wispy crest. The crest on the male is scarlet red, and the female has both a gray crest and a gray body. Only two species of cockatoo have red on the head, with the other being the Major Mitchell's cockatoo.

Geographically, the gang-gang cockatoo is limited to Australia and Tasmania in nature. It is not widely distributed in either location, though. Gang-gangs are found only along the inland areas and coast of southeastern Australia and in northern Tasmania. Its name comes from an aboriginal language that is spoken along the Australian coast.

The habitat of the gang-gang cockatoo varies with the season. In the summer, these birds live at higher altitudes and like to be in the tall forests and woodlands of the inland mountains. When winter comes, the gang-gang cockatoo might move to a lower altitude with a drier climate and less-dense woodlands and forests. During the winter season, it’s possible to see them in urban areas, usually in parks and gardens.

For food, gang-gang cockatoos mostly prefer the seeds of trees such as acacias and the forest eucalyptus. They supplement this mainstay of their diet by also eating insects, fruits, nuts and berries, when they are available. The gang-gang cockatoo spends most of its life in trees and only when it needs to eat or drink does it go to the ground.

During breeding season, gang-gangs feed in small family groups or in pairs. At other times of the year, however, they will feed in flocks as large as 60 birds. A peculiar trait is that these birds invariably use their left foot to hold the food they are eating.

Breeding season lasts from October to January. The female gang-gang cockatoo selects where the nest will be, but both sexes make the nest ready for eggs. Nests are built in the hollows of tall trees, such as the eucalyptus, and are lined with wood chips made by the birds chewing at the edges of the hollow.

Two or three eggs are laid. Incubation takes about 30 days, and both parents sit on the eggs. After hatching, the parents feed the chicks for another four to six weeks.

The Gang-Gang Cockatoo is a small, charismatic parrot native to southeastern Australia. It's easily recognized by its slate-grey plumage and the male's distinctive red head and crest. These birds are known for their unique call, which resembles a creaky door hinge, and they primarily feed on seeds, nuts, and berries.

Gang-Gang Cockatoos are found in the cooler and wetter forests and woodlands of southeastern Australia, particularly in the mountain regions. During the breeding season, they tend to reside in higher altitudes, but they may move to lower areas in other seasons.

Gang-Gang Cockatoos have a diet consisting mainly of seeds, including eucalyptus seeds, as well as nuts, berries, and fruit. They are also known to occasionally eat insects. Their strong beaks are well-adapted to cracking open tough seed casings.

As of my knowledge cutoff in 2023, Gang-Gang Cockatoos are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Their populations are declining due to habitat loss, changes in fire regimes, and competition for nesting sites with other species, such as the Common Starling and Indian Myna.

Gang-Gang Cockatoos communicate using a variety of vocalizations, including their distinctive call that sounds like a creaky gate. These vocalizations are used for mating, signaling danger, and maintaining contact with each other. They also use body language, such as crest erection and tail fanning, to express themselves.

Gang-Gang Cockatoos breed from October to January. They are monogamous and often form long-term pair bonds. Nests are typically built in hollows of large trees, where the female lays two to three eggs. Both parents share incubation duties, and the chicks are altricial, meaning they are born relatively undeveloped and require extensive parental care.