Galah (Rose-breasted Cockatoo)

• ExerciseHigh

  Needs hours of out-of-cage activity and mental challenges every day.

• GroomingRegular feather care

  Regular bathing or misting plus nail and beak checks.

• Living spaceStandard cage

  A proper cage and daily out-of-cage time fit fine in an apartment.

• Owner experienceFor experienced owners

  Rewards owners who know the ropes.

• Commitment40–70 years

  Plan for a long, loving relationship.

Health to watch: Feather plucking · Obesity · Respiratory issues

The Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla), or rose-breasted cockatoo, is one of Australia's most abundant and widespread parrots, a rose-pink-breasted, grey-backed cockatoo seen in noisy flocks across the entire continent. Pets weigh 270-350 g and are long-lived at 40-70 years, so they are a genuine lifelong companion. Galahs are famously playful and clownish — the word galah is Australian slang for a silly, endearing person — and they love to dance, hang upside down and mimic sounds. Smaller and generally less overwhelmingly needy than umbrella or moluccan cockatoos, they still crave company and mental work, and a bored galah will scream and pluck. Diet control is critical: galahs are strongly prone to obesity and fatty tumours (lipomas), so keep them on a low-fat pelleted diet with plenty of vegetables and greens and only sparing seeds and nuts. Give a large cage, daily flight and foraging, and lots of interaction; with a lean diet, exercise and companionship this hardy, comical cockatoo stays healthy and entertaining for decades.

• How much activity does a Galah (Rose-breasted Cockatoo) need?

  High. Needs hours of out-of-cage activity and mental challenges every day.

• How much feather care does a Galah (Rose-breasted Cockatoo) need?

  Regular feather care. Regular bathing or misting plus nail and beak checks.

• What cage does a Galah (Rose-breasted Cockatoo) need?

  Standard cage. A proper cage and daily out-of-cage time fit fine in an apartment.

• Is a Galah (Rose-breasted Cockatoo) a good fit for first-time owners?

  For experienced owners. Rewards owners who know the ropes.

• How long do Galah (Rose-breasted Cockatoo) live?

  40–70 years. Plan for a long, loving relationship.

• What health issues affect the Galah (Rose-breasted Cockatoo)?

  Keep an eye out for Feather plucking, Obesity, Respiratory issues. These are worth raising with your vet, along with any screening they recommend.

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