The Little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea) is a small white cockatoo, measuring 35–41 cm (14–16 in) in length and weighing 370–630 g (13–22 oz), with an average weight of 525 g (1.157 lb). It shares similarities in appearance with the Long-billed Corella and the Western Corella, but it is smaller. Unlike those species, it possesses upper and lower mandibles of similar length. Notably, it lacks the orange throat bar found in the Long-billed Corella.
Females are slightly smaller than males in various measurements.
The Little Corella, also known as the Short-billed Corella, Bare-eyed Cockatoo, Blood-stained Cockatoo, and Little Cockatoo, is a white cockatoo native to Australia and southern New Guinea.
Among the Yindjibarndi people of the central and western Pilbara, it was known as “Birdirra.” Traditionally, they kept these birds as pets and used their downy feathers in traditional ceremonies and dances to adorn head and armbands.
They inhabit a variety of environments, from arid deserts in central Australia to eastern coastal plains. They are also present in urban areas such as Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, and Brisbane, where they feed on lawns and playing fields. In some regions, they are considered crop pests and can damage trees by chewing the bark off smaller twigs.
Little Corellas primarily feed on the ground, occasionally foraging in trees and shrubs. They consume a variety of wild and cultivated seeds, including lawn grasses in urban areas. They can also be agricultural pests, often feeding on cereal crops like wheat, barley, and maize.
Breeding occurs from May to October, with nests typically located in tree hollows, cliff cavities, or termite mounds.
Little Corellas form flocks of up to several thousand individuals, often mingling with other bird species like galahs, sulphur-crested cockatoos, and red-tailed black cockatoos. They roost in trees overnight and fly out to feed in the early morning, returning in the late evening. These flocks can cover significant distances between feeding and roosting areas, and in desert regions, they must fly to watering holes twice daily.
Their calls consist of high-pitched notes and screeches, somewhat resembling the sulfur-crested cockatoo. Large flocks can create a deafening screeching sound audible from several kilometers away.
Relationship to Humans and Threats
In South Australia, Little Corellas are classified as “unprotected native fauna” and may be shot, trapped, or gassed by landowners without a permit. Permits are available to capture a limited number of Little Corellas from the wild each year for avicultural purposes.
