Sulfur Crested Cockatoo

Eleanora Cockatoo

There are many species of Cockatoos and I will name some that have sub species also. They are the Greater Sulfur Crested Cockatoo, the Medium Sulfur Crested Cockatoo, the Lesser Sulfur Crested Cockatoo, the Citron, the Umbrella Cockatoo, the Major Mitchell, the Gala or Rose Breasted Cockatoo, the Moluccan, the Goffin and the Bare Eyed Cockatoo. Probably the most recognized is the Sulfur Crested Cockatoo, Major Mitchell and the Galah or Rose Breasted Cockatoo.

Let's speak about the Eleanora Cockatoo that is one of the Sulfur Crested Cockatoos and is the smallest of the four subspecies.

The average weight of a male is about 2 pounds and a female about 1 3/4 pounds. When a bird is on a bird list as a Medium Sulfur Crested cockatoo, birders are likely mentioning the Eleanora. The Eleanora is a lovely white bird that has a lengthy light colored crest with an attractive up swinging point. On the under parts of their wings, tail, and over the ears are colored chiffon.

The ring around their eye is a bleached blue in color and their feet are grayish. Their bill is very dark but in the adults, because of a light powder cover, makes their beak appear gray.

The Eleanoras inhabit the Aru Islands off the southern coast of New Guinea. They live over broad areas of the Eastern half of Australia too. It prefers to live in exposed woodlands from the balmy to the moderate temperature territories.

Eleanoras can live if properly cared for up to 55 years of age.

When in captivity, whether by a breeder or private individual, the birds breed sometime between February to June. Breeders have seen a pair of Eleanoras have up to three clutches in a year. Each clutch consists of two eggs.

The mating conduct is a distinct ritual that precedes copulation. The ceremony comprises of some vocalization by the male Eleanoras. The male strides to and fro and then will move nearer to the female. Then she customarily rustles her tail over his head. The male then moves from one side of the female to the other. He does this by stepping across her back. After doing this 10 to 15 times he steps on her shoulder as they prepare to mate. Then while he is in position on her shoulders they copulate. While copulating he moves his tail from side to side. This will last for many minutes. When finished he usually goes to the feeding dish and she goes in the nest. The entire mating action lasts 10 to 15 minutes.

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