Sulphur-crested cockatoo Cacatua galerita

Australian National University Campus, Canberra

This is surely one of Australia’s most charismatic birds. 

Gang-gang cockatoo Callocephalon fimbriatum

Australian National University Campus, ACT

To locate a Gang-gang cockatoo, you need to carefully listen for the gentle creaky hinge call that it makes while feeding. 

Western corella Cacatua pastinator

Rocky Gully, WA

The western corella cockatoo has a very restricted range in the tall timber country of the south west. 

Red-tailed black-cockatoo Calyptorhynchus banksii

Southern Cross, WA

Yellow-tailed black-cockatoo Calyptorhynchus funereus

Canberra, ACT

This enormous bird has a liking for pine cones. The thick canopy provided by pine trees results in a very dark location, this in combination with the high perching of the birds makes a very difficult subject to photograph.

Glossy black-cockatoo Calyptorhynchus lathami

Budawang National Park, NSW

In addition to being the rarest Australian cockatoo, the Glossy Black is also one of the quietest, making it incredibly difficult to find. Most cockatoos continuously announce their presence. The only sound that I heard from this species was the gentle cracking of Casuarina fruits and the rustling of leaves as the leftovers fell to the ground.

Major Mitchell’s cockatoo Lophochroa leadbeateri

Eyre, WA

The Eyre Bird Observatory is a very reliable place to photograph a Major Mitchell, the only problem is getting ther. Eyre is a difficult 40km 4WD south of Cocklebiddy in the middle of the bight.

Galah Eolophus roseicapilla

Hyden, WA

Patience is necessary when photographing birds. I had to wait for the sun to break through the clouds for this pair of galahs to be illuminated.

Baudin’s black-cockatoo Calyptorhynchus baudinii

Wungong Dam, WA

Long-billed corella Cacatua tenuirostris

Armadale, WA

Little corella Cacatua sanguinea

Armadale, WA

Little corellas feed on the ground and are easy to find and photograph. The challenge is waiting for them to display some interesting behaviour.

Carnaby’s black-cockatoo Calyptorhynchus latirostris

Esperance, WA

Most Black cockatoos feed high up in trees hidden in foliage resulting in an awkward photograph. This Carnaby’s cockatoo conveniently perched at eye level.