Little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea) lives in open savanna across Western Australia. It feeds on seeds and grains. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Little Corella
- Among the Yindjibarndi of the central and western Pilbara the little corella is called Birdirra. The people traditionally kept these birds as pets and also cooked and ate them. Their soft downy feathers are harvested for use in ceremonial dances, where they are woven into headpieces and armbands. This cultural use reflects the bird's long-standing significance to Indigenous communities.
- The little corella is a small white cockatoid measuring 35-41 cm in length and weighing between 370 and 630 g, with an average of 525 g. Unlike its larger relatives, its upper and lower mandibles are the same length, giving it a symmetrical beak. It forages mainly on the ground, taking a wide range of wild and cultivated seeds, and often feeds on lawn grasses in urban parks.
- In the wild little corellas can assemble flocks of up to several thousand birds, often mixing with galahs, sulphur-crested and red-tailed black cockatoos. These large groups roost together in trees overnight and depart at dawn to feed, then return at dusk. They may travel many kilometres each day between feeding grounds and roost sites, and in arid regions must also make twice-daily trips to watering holes, unlike coastal birds that find water nearby.
- When little corellas play they become very noisy, calling loudly while suspended upside-down on a branch. They grip the perch with their feet, their beak, or both as they hang, a behaviour they use to show off to other birds. During these bouts they chatter with one another, fly around the flock and perform acrobatic displays. The noisy, upside-down play often occurs in groups where the combined calls can be heard for metres.
- A mass death in July 2019 saw about 60 corellas plunge from the sky, bleeding from their mouths and wailing, in what resembled a horror-movie scene. The Adelaide incident was linked to suspected poisoning and prompted a toxicology investigation.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeWestern Australia
HabitatOpen savanna
DietSeeds and grains
About the Little Corella
In the sun-baked landscapes of Australia, the Little Corella dances on wings of snowy white and pale salmon, its gentle demeanor a stark contrast to the harsh yet beautiful world it inhabits. With a soft, feathery crest and an inquisitive gaze, this small cockatoo moves through the arid grasslands and open woodlands with a quiet confidence, its flocking calls weaving a melodic tapestry across the desert skies. As it forages for seeds and grains, its adaptability and resilience in the face of a changing environment make it a truly remarkable creature, one that embodies the unyielding spirit of the Australian outback.
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