Medium Sulphur Crested Cockatoo

The Eleonora cockatoo, Cacatua galerita eleonora, also known as medium sulphur-crested cockatoo, is a subspecies of the sulphur-crested cockatoo. The Eleonora cockatoo was named by Otto Finsch. He discovered the subspecies in Amsterdam’s Artis zoo and named it after Maria Eleonora van der Schroef, the wife of the then director of the zoo.

In the morning, Sulphur-crested Cockatoos form feeding flocks, generally eating on the ground. During the hottest part of the day, they sit in nearby trees for shelter. In the afternoon, they resume feeding and then return to the roosting grounds in the evening. Feeding grounds will be used day after day until the area is exhausted or there is no more food left, and thus vary seasonally based on food availability. Roosting grounds are hardly ever abandoned.

Sulphur-crested Cockatoos will keep their beak healthy by stripping and chewing bark and leaves when they are not eating, usually during midday when they are resting. Their typical call is very loud and raucous, meant to be heard over long distances through forest canopy. Sulphur-crested Cockatoos also use their crest to communicate; a raised crest can mean excitement, alarm, or be used during courtship.