Difference between revisions of "Galah"
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| + | The '''galah''' (''Eolophus roseicapilla'') is an Australian parrot of the cockatoo family, one of the most ubiquitous in non-forested rural areas, and certainly one of the most distinctively beautiful. In flight, their alternate grey and deep pink as they turn and wheel in flocks that can be over 1000 strong, are immediately recognisable. | ||
| − | + | They are widespread throughout the open plains of mainland Australia and have been introduced to the appropriate areas of Tasmania. They require open ground with sufficient food (seeds basically, though they do eat the odd grub) and trees with hollows for nesting. The galah is also known as a household pet and has been known to form an attachment with the family dog or even cat. | |
| − | + | ==Description== | |
| + | 340 -380mm long (including 150mm tail). “Pale-grey above, rose-pink to deep rose-red below. Male’s eye dark brown; female’s reddish.” (Pizzey) | ||
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==Habits== | ==Habits== | ||
| − | They can be found singly, in pairs or in flocks, throughout their habitat which is open ground with occasional trees. They pair for long periods, if not for life, and nest in hollows in trees or, occasionally, caves, where they lay 2 to 5 eggs. Fledglings are immediately airworthy although landing can be a problem. Only one in ten galahs reach sexual maturity. They have enjoyed the pastoralisation of the Australian outback with its increase in surface water through the use of wind-powered bores to bring artesian water to the surface. (It is common to see cattle competing with a multitude of galahs at the troughs beneath an iconic Australian windmill | + | They can be found singly, in pairs or in flocks, throughout their habitat which is open ground with occasional trees. They pair for long periods, if not for life, and nest in hollows in trees or, occasionally, caves, where they lay 2 to 5 eggs. Fledglings are immediately airworthy although landing can be a problem. Only one in ten galahs reach sexual maturity. They have enjoyed the pastoralisation of the Australian outback with its increase in surface water through the use of wind-powered bores to bring artesian water to the surface. (It is common to see cattle competing with a multitude of galahs at the troughs beneath an iconic Australian windmill) |
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==And another thing== | ==And another thing== | ||
| − | Galahs are recognised as being intelligent for a | + | Galahs are recognised as being intelligent for a bird. However, in Australia, the term “galah” is slang for an idiot, a stupid person. So is a “drongo” – another (more international) bird. |
Reference: Graham Pizzey, “A Field Guide to Birds of Australia.” | Reference: Graham Pizzey, “A Field Guide to Birds of Australia.” | ||
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| + | [[Category:Birds]][[Category:Parrots]][[Category:Cockatoos]] | ||
Revision as of 03:05, October 24, 2012
| Galah | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom Information | |
| Domain | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Subkingdom | Bilateria |
| Branch | Deuterostomia |
| Phylum Information | |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Sub-phylum | Vertebrata |
| Infraphylum | Gnathostomata |
| Class Information | |
| Superclass | Tetrapoda |
| Class | Aves |
| Sub-class | Neornithes |
| Infra-class | Neoaves |
| Order Information | |
| Superorder | Psittacimorphae |
| Order | Psittaciformes |
| Family Information | |
| Family | Cacatuidae |
| Sub-family | Calyptorhynchinae |
| Genus Information | |
| Genus | Eolophus |
| Species Information | |
| Species | E. roseicapilla |
| Subspecies | E. roseicapilla albiceps E. roseicapilla kuhli E. roseicapilla roseicapillus |
| Population statistics | |
The galah (Eolophus roseicapilla) is an Australian parrot of the cockatoo family, one of the most ubiquitous in non-forested rural areas, and certainly one of the most distinctively beautiful. In flight, their alternate grey and deep pink as they turn and wheel in flocks that can be over 1000 strong, are immediately recognisable.
They are widespread throughout the open plains of mainland Australia and have been introduced to the appropriate areas of Tasmania. They require open ground with sufficient food (seeds basically, though they do eat the odd grub) and trees with hollows for nesting. The galah is also known as a household pet and has been known to form an attachment with the family dog or even cat.
Description
340 -380mm long (including 150mm tail). “Pale-grey above, rose-pink to deep rose-red below. Male’s eye dark brown; female’s reddish.” (Pizzey)
Habits
They can be found singly, in pairs or in flocks, throughout their habitat which is open ground with occasional trees. They pair for long periods, if not for life, and nest in hollows in trees or, occasionally, caves, where they lay 2 to 5 eggs. Fledglings are immediately airworthy although landing can be a problem. Only one in ten galahs reach sexual maturity. They have enjoyed the pastoralisation of the Australian outback with its increase in surface water through the use of wind-powered bores to bring artesian water to the surface. (It is common to see cattle competing with a multitude of galahs at the troughs beneath an iconic Australian windmill)
And another thing
Galahs are recognised as being intelligent for a bird. However, in Australia, the term “galah” is slang for an idiot, a stupid person. So is a “drongo” – another (more international) bird.
Reference: Graham Pizzey, “A Field Guide to Birds of Australia.”