Galah Eolophus roseicapilla
(aka Cacatua roseicapilla)
Galah, Deniliquin, NSW, Australia, March 2006 - click for larger image Australia

The Galah is a widespread Cockatoo distributed throughout Australia. There were originally found in semi-arid or arid grassland or woodland but, with the spread of settlement have now become common throughout much of Australia. See the distribution map at Birdlife International.

Galah, Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia, February 2006 - click for larger image Although superficially similar to Cacatua cockatoos, they are now considered sufficiently distinct to warrant their own genus. Further taxonomic interest lies in the sub-species of which there are now three normally recognised. The eastern race used to be the nominate because the location of the first specimen was wrongly identified. In the 1980s it was established that it had in fact been collected at Shark Bay, Western Australia, so the western sub-species became the nominate and the eastern sub-species was re-named Eolophus roseicapilla albiceps.
Galah, Deniliquin, NSW, Australia, March 2006 - click for larger image This eastern race, seen here in photos 1, 2 and 3, has a white crown and a pinkish, carunculated eye-ring. The western, nominate race has a pinkish crown and a greyish eye-ring as seen in photos 6 to 8. I think that photos 4 and 5 are of an intergrade between these two sub-species.
Galah, Wyperfield, Victoria, Australia, February 2006 - click for larger image
Galah, Wyperfield, Victoria, Australia, February 2006 - click for larger image
Galah, Cheynes Beach, Western Australia, October 2013 - click for larger image
Galah, Cheynes Beach, Western Australia, October 2013 - click for larger image
Galah, Cheynes Beach, Western Australia, October 2013 - click for larger image
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