Major Mitchell

The Major Mitchell Cockatoo, Leadbeater's Cockatoo or Pink Cockatoo is a medium sized cockatoo native to Australia. It has soft-textured white and salmon-pink plumage with a large, bright red and yellow crest.

Native to Australia Major Mitchell's are widespread with patch distribution of inland Australia.

The Major Mitchell Cockatoo can live for 40 to 60 years out in the wild and up to 80 years in captivity.

Major Mitchell's are approximately 35 - 40 centimetres in length and can weigh up to 300 - 430g.

Major Mitchell's forage largely on the ground for grass seeds, grains, tubers and insect larvae. They have adapted to cracking open hard-shelled nuts using their powerful beaks.

The Major Mitchell tend to live in the same habitat all year which is semi-arid and arid areas, whilst also being never far from water in Australia’s grassland areas, sand plains and dunes. They also do require forest habitat for their nesting.

In the north pairs breed from May-September and in the south pairs breed from August - December. One to four eggs are laid in hollow logs and are incubated for around 30 days by both male and female. Chicks fledge at 7 - 8 weeks and become independent after 16 weeks.