Gang-Gang Cockatoo

The sound of hawthorn berries being chewed and their distinctive creaky call alerted me to a nearby flock of Gang-gangs before I saw them. This male with his distinctive red head stood out on the edge of a branch, as it methodically made its way around the tree eating. 

Physical appearance

The adult male Gang-gang Cockatoo is easily recognised by his scarlet-red head and wispy crest, contrasting with his slate-grey body. Females have a dark grey head and crest, with yellow and pinkish edging to the feathers on their underparts. Young birds resemble adult females, although young males develop some red on the crown and forehead before acquiring the full adult colouring. Gang-gangs are relatively small and stocky cockatoos, measuring around 34 cm long.

Habitat

Gang-gang Cockatoos are found in south-eastern Australia, particularly in the forests and woodlands of Victoria, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. During summer, they inhabit tall mountain forests and woodlands, while in autumn and winter they move to lower elevations, where they can often be found in suburban gardens and lowland forests.

Behaviour

Diet: Gang-gangs feed mainly on seeds from native and introduced trees and shrubs, particularly eucalypts, wattles and introduced hawthorns. They also eat berries, fruits, nuts and insects and their larvae.
Left-footed: Gang-gang Cockatoos almost always use their left foot to hold food while eating. Their specialised cockatoo bill makes using a foot particularly important when handling and eating food.
Seasonal movements: These cockatoos make seasonal movements between higher and lower elevations. After breeding in the mountains during summer, many move to lower areas for autumn and winter, where they may feed on introduced plants such as hawthorn.
Quiet but distinctive: Gang-gangs are relatively quiet compared with many other cockatoos. Their distinctive call has been described as sounding like a rusty hinge, while a soft growling sound can often be heard when they are feeding.
Social birds: They are usually seen in pairs or small family groups during the breeding season, but can gather in flocks of up to around 60 birds outside the breeding season.

Breeding

Nesting: Gang-gang Cockatoos nest in hollows in large trees, usually eucalypts and often near water. Both parents prepare the hollow by chewing at its sides, creating wood chips and dust that form the nest lining.
Parental care: Both parents incubate the eggs and care for the young. The usual clutch is two eggs, and young birds remain dependent on their parents for several weeks after leaving the nest.
Crèches: In some areas, several pairs nest relatively close together. Their young may gather together in a tree while their parents leave to forage, forming groups known as crèches.
Breeding period: October to January.

Conservation

Endangered: Gang-gang Cockatoo numbers have declined substantially over recent decades, with habitat loss, reduced availability of nesting hollows and the impacts of the 2019–20 Black Summer bushfires contributing to their decline. The species is now listed as Endangered under Australia's EPBC Act, meaning it faces a very high risk of extinction in the wild.