Galah

SPECIES Galah
TAXONOMY Eolophus roseicapilla albiceps
STATUS Least Concern (Redlist.org)

• Eolophus roseicapilla albiceps (Eastern Galah) - has a pale pink, almost white head

• Eolophus roseicapilla assimilis (Western Galah) - has a dark pink head

Aka: Rose-breasted Cockatoo, Galah Cockatoo, Roseate Cockatoo, or Pink and Grey

The Galah is an Australian native cockatoo species and is amongst the most abundant and widespread. They usually appear in large flocks across a variety of environments. Flocks of Galahs, also known as ‘pandemoniums’, are noisy, playful, and bold. This behavioural trait is what they are most known for and gave rise to a few idioms that continue in use to this day!

The word ‘galah’ in Australian slang was first documented in the 1930s and has come to mean ‘idiot’ or ‘fool’; no doubt due to the bird’s playful behaviour and what might appear as being ‘stupidity’; and,

Historically, the term ‘Galah Session’ was first referring to when women living on isolated stations would have a nightly discussion over the outback radio network to catch up with whatever topic they choose. However more generally the term is referring to a ‘Galah Session’ as being a long chat.

History
First recorded in the 1850s, the word ‘galah’ is a derivative among various spellings of the word given for the species from the Yuwaalaraay and related Aboriginal languages of Northern New South Wales. Other spellings appear as ‘gilaa’, ‘galar’, ‘gillar’, and ‘gulah’.

It was reported in the very early 1900s that in the most remote and sunburnt outposts, residents were surviving on stewed galah, galah pie, and curried crow.

Distribution
Originally common only to the arid inland, Galahs had expanded their presence across most of the mainland and some offshore islands by the early 1900s. They were introduced into Tasmania.

Habitat
They occupy a very wide range of habitats including everything from mediterranean forests to the arid inland. They are particularly well adapted to the hot and arid conditions and can withstand long periods without water. They have the ability to rehydrate by drinking salty water. Galahs have also adapted to urban areas, parklands, and cultivated areas. They will avoid very dense forests.

Feeding
Technically speaking, the Galah is a granivore. They prefer seeds as a primary dietary source. However, they will also consume fruit, berries, grasses, roots, leaf buds, insects and their larvae. They are often seen on the ground looking for food. 

Behaviour
Galahs are a highly social bird. They will form flocks, also known as ‘pandemoniums’, from just a few individuals to as many as 1,000. They will often mix with other breeds of cockatoo when forming a flock. They are not territorial and will happily share roosting trees and food sources although minor squabbles do occur. They will rest during the heat of the day.

They are among the breeds that are monogamous and pair for life. If one dies, it is known that the remaining one will become depressed until able to find a new mate. They show affection through preening each other, and the two will leave the flock when it is time to build their nest. Sometimes a few pairs will branch away from the main flock and form a small group. They appreciate the safety of numbers and exercise the concept that one of them will keep watch whilst the others feed. Galahs rely on their sense of sight to avoid becoming a victim of predation.

Whilst in flight, they become quite vocal in announcing their presence. The same call is repeated more quickly when the bird becomes alarmed; further displaying a fanned tail, outspread wings, and their crest erect! They are even known to be vocal during periods of rest.

Galahs display bouncing flight patterns, twisting and turning as they swoop towards the ground. They also have a tendency to become acrobatic when looking to settle on a perch as they have been seen hanging upside down, holding on by one foot, and all in conjunction with flapping their wings and vocalising!

Appearance
With their distinct and unmistakable pink and grey plumage, the Galah is a familiar sight. They have a short crest on the head which when lowered, looks like a cap. Living up to 40 years, they are 35 centimetres in length and weigh up to 350 grams.

The male and female are distinguished by eye colour. The male has dark brown eyes, with the female having pinkish red. Juveniles maintain more grey on the undersides of their body and wings until they reach maturity at one year.

Reproduction
Monogamous by nature, pairs will leave the flock in search of a suitable nesting site such as the hollow of a tree, or cavities in a cliff face. Often many pairs will nest close to each other. They will shred the bark near the nest entrance, and line the hollow with leaves. They are the only cockatoo species to do this. 

With a clutch of between two to five eggs, both parents will share incubation responsibilities. Hatching occurs at four weeks, with fledging at eight weeks. The juveniles will gather alongside other young in a ‘creche tree’, where they will continue to be supported by their parents until becoming fully independent. They will remain nomadic until reaching full maturity and finding their own mate by three or four years of age.

There is high chick mortality in Galahs, with up to 50% of chicks dying in the first six months. Galahs have been recorded breeding with other members of the cockatoo family, both in the wild and captivity. 

Threats
Although a protected species in Australia, their populations are increasing. They have benefited greatly since European Colonisation simply with the change to the landscape bringing more seeds.

Galahs are of great importance to ecological systems due to seed dispersal. However, they also cause damage to trees because of their unique nesting habits.

For the most part, farmers consider them to be a pest and have implemented multiple attempts at trapping, shooting, and poisoning in the effort to reduce the impact that Galahs can have on local grain producing agriculture.

Updated 5 May 2021