Scientific Facts
| Common Name | Little Corella |
| Scientific Name | Cacatua sanguinea |
| Origin | Northern Australia and Southern New Guinea. They can also be found in urban areas like Canberra, Sydney, and Brisbane. They can also be found in several farmlands of New South Wales and Queensland |
| Habitat | Agricultural sites where seeding and grasses are found and along watercourses where they drink |
| Diet | seeds such as grains and grass seeds, herbs, berries, nuts, roots, and leafy vegetables |
| Size and Weight | 14 to 17 inches or 36 to 40 cm while their weight can range from 300 to 400 grams |
| Life Span | Up to 50-80 years |
Physical Appearance
The Little Corella is commonly known as a bare-eyed cockatoo, and it is said to be the smallest species of cockatoo. This bird is primarily white with a short white crest and bluish-grey eye-ring. It has a patch which is between the eye and bill that appeared to be as orange-pink. Its underwing and under tail have a bright yellow color, and its feet are grey. Male and Female corella is hard to distinguish because they look similar, but males tend to be larger and have larger beaks and heads than females. The juvenile corella also looks like an adult, but they have a shorter bill, and its eye-ring appears to be less blue.
Where It is Seen?
This bird is found in Northern Australia and Southern New Guinea. They can also be found in urban areas like Canberra, Sydney, and Brisbane. They can also be found in several farmlands of New South Wales and Queensland in which they tend to be destructive to trees by perching and chewing the bark of smaller twigs.
Habitat
Little Corellas often form large flocks in agricultural sites where seeding and grasses are found and along watercourses where they drink. An increase in agricultural sites also increased the number of corellas that will be found in which they bring destruction to the crops of the farmers.
Behavior and Temperament
Little Corellas are typically seen in pairs or small flocks, and so these birds are noisy in which they often call out loud, signaling their flocks. During the day, they go to the top of the trees or branches to bask or to get exposed to the sunlight. These birds are known for being playful in which they like hanging and sliding downsloping the rooftops. They usually fly several times a day to find food and water. They find their source of food along the roadside, pasture, and farmland, in which they often become pests for the farmers because they tend to destroy their crops by eating it. In addition, they usually feed on dawn to midday and in the late afternoon.
After that, these birds will return on their roost sites to digest food, play, preen, and to rest for a period of time. Before settling for the night, they usually perform some acrobatics; that’s why they tend to become noisy. These birds are known for being playful, loving, or affectionate personalities, but despite those personalities, these birds can also become aggressive in which they tend to bite you sometimes, especially when they get frustrated.
Diet
Little Corellas feed on the ground and mainly eats seeds such as grains and grass seeds, herbs, berries, nuts, roots, and leafy vegetables. They also eat cereal crops such as wheat and barley and other crops of the farmers. Hence, other cockatoos also like to eat insects and their larva.
Breeding and Reproduction
The breeding of little corellas begins during the start of the rainy season. They usually mate between March and December once a year. Male cockatoo will open his wings, ruffles his feathers, and raising his crest while dancing and bouncing repeatedly in front of a female cockatoo for her to be attracted. When the female accepts the male, they will preen each other. After breeding, they will leave their group and find a nesting site. They make their nest in a tree hallows with a measurement of 16 to 100 ft. Female corella lay eggs for about 3 to 4 white eggs.
The incubation of eggs usually lasts for 30 days. Both sexes are good at parenting, in which they take turns in keeping their eggs moist by sitting on them during the incubation period. In addition, when they are already hatched, they feed their young chicks alternately. Young chicks mature between 4 to 5 and 6 to 7 years. The sexes of these young chicks are difficult to determine; DNA testing will be helpful to know their sexes.
Size and Weight
The size of little corellas can range between 14 to 17 inches or 36 to 40 cm, while their weight can range from 300 to 400 grams.
Life Span
Having the right diet and a healthy environment, this bird can live for about 50-80 years longer.
Common Disease/Illnesses
Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD)
This disease is most common among other birds, including parrots, cockatoos like corellas, and other birds that belong to the Psittacidae family. This kind of disease is said to be a fatal viral disease because it results in death due to the infection that reduces the immunity caused by this disease. This disease is caused by the circovirus that kills the cells and infects the beak and the feathers of the birds.
The symptoms of this disease are the abnormal growth of their feathers and their beaks, loss of appetite, regurgitation, and diarrhea. This disease can also be transmitted from birds to birds and to humans who have direct contact with those infected birds. Furthermore, this disease has no cure, and vaccines are only now being developed.
Polyoma
This disease is caused by a virus that can get through direct contact with other infected birds, infected feces, nest boxes, dandruff, incubators, and feather dust. This disease can be a deadly virus to birds, but other cockatoos cannot die with this disease; instead, they will become the carrier of this virus for their whole life and spread this virus to other birds.
Young birds in cockatoos and other parrots are mostly the ones that are being targeted by this kind of disease, and many of the young birds can either die or become the carrier of this virus. Parrots that are already an adult will not be the carrier for the rest of their life; instead, they will only carry the virus for about 24 weeks and get cured completely. When an adult bird dies due to polyomavirus will only be determined by the veterinarian.
Psittacosis
It is an infectious disease in humans that are being transferred to a sick bird or any susceptible species like guinea pigs, dogs, sheep, horses, and all bird species. This disease is caused by Chlamydia psittaci, a type of bacteria that often infects birds. The bird that is being infected by these bacteria will take some time before the symptoms will arise.
The common symptoms of Psittacosis are greenish feces, coughing, fluid running from their nose, and difficulty in breathing or loud breathing. The birds that have kind of symptoms will often die within 2 weeks, but some birds that are infected and do not show any of these symptoms may be a carrier of this bacteria which can eventually transmit to other birds.
Giardia
It is a parasite that causes infection to many species of birds. This is due to a contaminated environment in which parasites mostly occurs. This parasite is usually found in drinking and recreational water and lives in the intestinal tract of infected species such as birds and other animals and also to humans.
The symptoms of this infection to birds include itching, diarrhea, loss of feathers, loss of appetite, and other malnutrition symptoms. In humans, it can cause intestinal symptoms like stomach cramps, flatulence, diarrhea, and nausea. These symptoms will result in dehydration and weight loss. However, some people or animals have no symptoms at all, but after a long period of time, these symptoms will eventually occur.
Preventing Illnesses
To prevent the disease, you should always clean the environment all times and better check your pet for testing to know immediately if your birds got infected and to know if they become a carrier of the bacteria to prevent further spread to humans and other animals. The different infections can be treated, but in order to prevent these kinds of infections, especially, make sure to have a clean environment, and the water should not be contaminated.
You should always provide your birds with a clean water filtration system. If you noticed that your birds are acting weird or if there are some physical manifestations of a disease, you should immediately take your pet to the veterinarian to test whether your birds need to be vaccinated so as not to aggravate the situation.
Captive Breeding
Little Corellas can be taken in captivity because they can be easier to accommodate, and they are very affectionate and have a sweet personality. These birds are playful; that is why you should provide them a large cage. They are also noisy, but they can be a fun companion for humans. If you’re planning to get corellas, it is advisable to take corellas in pairs because they are usually thought to pair for life. These birds also require care and attention because they are active birds. They can also be easily tamed and trained to talk and to be free of destruction and annoying behavior.
Availability-Where to Get One
Since they are listed as vulnerable or least concern, finding and availing little corella is not that difficult, it just depends on the availability of your local pet shop. Most little corellas are readily sold on the internet. Make sure to find a legit parrot breeder so as to purchase a bird that is healthy and has a 100% pure breed.
How to Care Parrot as a Pet?
Housing
The housing of this cockatoo should mimic their natural environment. As a breeder, you should provide them a cage that is wide enough for them to fly, roost, play, or do some physical activities since these birds are very active. You should also place your caged in comfortable conditions of temperature, lighting, ventilation, and protection from the weather. You should also provide them with a variety of perches, toys, and items to chew on.
You can also provide them with a large and deep nest box for them to use when breeding. If you are planning to acquire newly birds, they must undergo first for quarantine before allowing them in permanent housing. The housing of birds should always be clean to prevent such diseases.
Food
In captivity, little corellas should be fed with a mixed diet of seeds, vegetables, fruits, and pelleted seeds. Make sure to feed them with a well balanced and healthy diet at all times to prevent them from having illnesses or diseases. Aside from giving them food, you should also provide them with fresh water and consider cleaning their dishes every day.
Temperature
Generally, cockatoos are from tropical or subtropical regions, that is why they can live in cold or warm temperatures but with suitable limits of temperatures. Young birds need to stay warm at all times, having a temperature of 97 degrees Fahrenheit, and the temperature will decrease when they become older. Make sure that your birds get an appropriate amount of temperatures.
Direct sunlight can make them overheat, and cooler temperatures can freeze them. If you see your birds panting, keeping his wings away from his body, and making his feathers flat against its body, it will be an indication that your bird is too hot. Provide them a cooler area or spray him with lukewarm water.
Handling
Little Corellas usually cannot withstand boredom; that is why you need to play and interact with them since they can be easily tamed. Despite being active, they have also a behavior wherein they tend to be annoying and destructive. They are also noisy but to be able to combat those behaviors, give them daily training sessions and exercises for them to enhance their skills.
They are talented birds that they can be trained and learn different tricks. In training your birds, you should handle them gently and affectionately and talk to them with a loving voice. Avoid yelling at them because they will be frustrated at you, which causes them to bite you.
Conservation Status
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Little Corella is no risk of extinction, and they are classified as Least Concern. Also, the population of these birds is thought to be increasing rather than decreasing because of this species large range. Therefore, these birds are not subjected to vulnerability.
FAQ Section
Where do Corella’s nest?
Their nest is made in the space or cavity inside the tree of old eucalypts or gravelly cliffs (scoria). Both males and females prepare the nest and take good care of the eggs and later on feed the young. The eggs will be laid on the lining of the wood.
How do you tell if a Corella is a boy or a girl?
There are no significant differences between a male or female in terms of their physical appearance, but the females tend to be smaller in size. DNA sexing is needed to know their sexes.
Why are cockatoos so loud?
Little corella loves to scream, and t is a sign of happiness and excitement, but sometimes it could mean frustration and boredom. The way how the little corella screams are trainable, and they can also be trained on how to stop screaming.
Can a little corella eat popcorn?
Most bird species are fond of snacking on popcorn. They can either eat the unpopped and popped kernels. Just make sure not to give them popcorn that is flavored or the ones that are microwave popcorn because it has high salt and fat content.
Do Corellas mate for life?
A pair of little corella are known to mate for life. They are like other parrot species, that when housed together, one must not leave alone because the other will be stressed out and soon die.
