Among the cool mountain forests of southeastern Australia, a soft, rasping call drifts through the trees. It sounds almost like the creak of a gate, or a rusty hinge turning in the wind. Follow the sound and you may glimpse one of the most charming and distinctive parrots of the region—the Gang-gang Cockatoo (Callocephalon fimbriatum).’
At first glance, these birds appear subdued compared to their flamboyant cockatoo cousins. Their bodies are cloaked in smoky gray, with delicate scalloping that blends perfectly into the forest canopy. But the males carry a secret flame: a brilliant, tousled crest of scarlet feathers, as if fire were flickering above their heads. Females, equally beautiful, are dressed in subtler tones of gray and greenish barring, camouflaged against the gum trees.
Gang-gangs are cool-climate specialists, often found in eucalyptus woodlands and alpine forests. In summer, they climb into high-altitude areas to feed on seeds, berries, and gum nuts, while in winter they drift into lower valleys and even suburban gardens, where their gentle personalities win over local residents. Unlike the harsh screams of some cockatoos, their calls are soft, croaky, and almost comical—one reason people find them so endearing.
Courtship is understated but intimate. Males raise and lower their fiery crests, gently feeding their mates beak-to-beak in quiet displays of loyalty. Nesting usually takes place in deep hollows of large, old trees—making them vulnerable to habitat loss, since mature trees suitable for breeding are increasingly scarce.
Though not currently listed as endangered, Gang-gang Cockatoos face growing threats from urban development, climate change, and bushfires, which have destroyed significant portions of their forest habitat. In 2022, after catastrophic fires across southeastern Australia, the species was uplisted to “Endangered” in some regions, highlighting the urgency of conservation efforts.
To see a Gang-gang is to glimpse both fragility and resilience. They are not as loud or showy as other cockatoos, yet they carry a quiet magic—the flash of red in a gray forest, the creak of a call that feels both familiar and ancient. For Australians, they are more than just parrots; they are gentle symbols of the bush, a reminder that beauty often whispers rather than shouts.
