Gang-gang cockatoo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gang-gang cockatoo
Adult male
Female
Conservation status
Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1)
Endangered (EPBC Act)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Psittaciformes
Family:	Cacatuidae
Genus:	Callocephalon Lesson, RP, 1837
Species:	C. fimbriatum
Binomial name
Callocephalon fimbriatum (Grant, J, 1803)
Range of C. fimbriatum
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The gang-gang cockatoo (scientific name: Callocephalon fimbriatum) is a unique parrot found in the cooler, wetter forests of Australia. You can spot them in the mountains and bushland areas of southeastern Australia. This bird is the only species in its special group, called Callocephalon.

Gang-gang cockatoos are mostly grey. Males are easy to spot with their bright red heads and crests. Females have a grey head and a small, fluffy grey crest. Their call is very distinctive! It sounds a bit like a creaky gate or a cork popping out of a bottle. This special bird is also the animal symbol for the Australian Capital Territory.

The name gang-gang comes from an Aboriginal language from New South Wales. It's thought to be an onomatopoeia, meaning the name sounds like the bird's call.

What's in a Name?

In 1803, a British officer named James Grant first drew and described the gang-gang cockatoo. He did this during his trip to Australia. He gave it the scientific name Psittacus fimbriatus.

Later, in 1837, a French scientist named René Lesson created the special group, or genus, Callocephalon, just for this bird. The name fimbriata comes from Latin and means "fringed," referring to its feathers. The genus name Callocephalon combines two Ancient Greek words: kallos meaning "beauty" and kephalē meaning "head." So, its name means "beautiful head"!

Appearance: What Do They Look Like?

Gang-gang cockatoos are medium-sized birds. They are about 32 to 37 centimeters (12.5 to 14.5 inches) long. Their wingspan can reach 62 to 76 centimeters (24 to 30 inches). They weigh between 230 and 334 grams.

These birds are mostly grey with soft, wispy crests. The male gang-gang cockatoo has a bright red head and a matching red crest. Females have a dark grey head and a smaller, fluffy grey crest. The edges of their belly feathers can be yellow or pink. The feathers on their backs have slightly paler grey edges, making them look a bit striped.

Young males have brighter crowns and shorter crests. Otherwise, they look similar to adult females. Gang-gangs are very social birds. They are not usually very noisy.

Where Do Gang-gang Cockatoos Live?

Gang-gang cockatoos live only in the coastal areas of southeastern Australia. They used to live on King Island near Tasmania, but they are no longer found there. They were also introduced to Kangaroo Island.

These birds prefer forests and woodlands in the mountains. They like areas with lots of dense shrubs. In winter, they might move to more open places for a short time. However, they always return to denser forests to build their nests. They need tall trees for their homes.

Reproduction and Family Life

Gang-gang cockatoos are different from most other cockatoos. They build their nests inside young, strong trees. They often choose trees close to water. The female uses her strong beak to dig out a cozy nesting hole.

These birds are monogamous, meaning they stay with one partner. Their breeding season is from spring to summer. The female will lay 2 to 3 white eggs. Both parents take turns incubating the eggs for about four weeks. They both also help care for their young chicks.

What Do They Eat?

Gang-gang cockatoos mostly find their food high up in the tree canopies. They love to eat the flowers and buds of eucalyptus trees.

Protecting the Gang-gang Cockatoo

Sadly, the number of gang-gang cockatoos has dropped a lot in recent years. This is mainly because their homes, especially older trees with hollows for nesting, and their feeding areas have been cleared away. Because of this, the gang-gang cockatoo is now listed as a vulnerable species in New South Wales. Laws like the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 protect them. These laws make it very important not to harm their habitat, which includes any area they use for living or finding food.

Experts from the Australian Department of the Environment and Energy reported in July 2021 that the population had shrunk by about 69% over the past 21 years. The devastating 2019–20 Australian bushfire season also caused many deaths and destroyed a large part of their habitat. These fires impacted between 28% and 36% of where they live. Because of these serious declines, the gang-gang cockatoo is now listed as an endangered species under Australia's threatened fauna of Australia list. This means they need even more help to survive.

Images for kids

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  A female gang-gang cockatoo eating Schinus molle seeds

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  Male in the Blue Mountains

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  Male eating Acacia baileyana seeds

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  Two immature birds at New Buildings, NSW, Australia: The male is on the left and the female on the right.

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  Illustration of gang-gang cockatoo

See also

In Spanish: Cacatúa gang-gang para niños