Little Corella
BirdCare.com.au
PO  Box 126 Mitcham Vic 3132 ( Victoria, Australia )

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. Little Corella
This page is Sponsored By:
Burwood Pets & Birds
1415 Toorak Rd, Camberwell Vic. 3124
Adult Short billed Corellas are in stock
(subject to prior sale)
Phone (03) 9809 1212
    little corella photo
  • An Australian Parrot                                               (Click on photo to enlarge)
  • Scientific Name:  Cacatua sanguinea
  • Common Name/s:  LITTLE CORELLA,  SHORT BILLED CORELLA,  BARE EYED COCKATOO.
  • Sub Species:  4
  • Origin / Distribution:  3 large areas of Australia
  • Habitat In Wild:  Numbers have increased in farmland and cultivated areas. Loss of suitable tree nesting sites may impact on future numbers.
  • Status In Wild:  Common. Often treated as a pest species in grain growing areas.
  • Status In (Australian) Captivity:  Secure, but few are bred in captivity.
  • Age To Sexual Maturity:  3 - 4 years
  • Lifespan (estimate):  approx. 20 or more years
  • Sexing:  Monomorphic / Dimorphic. Surgical or DNA sexing is the most reliable method.
  • Colour mutations:  None
  • Availability:  Bird dealers and specialist breeders.
  • Temperament:  Docile and can make good pets but are noisy and may not be suitable in built up areas.  For breeding, best kept one pair per aviary.  Can learn to talk.
  • Cost (Victoria) Per Pair: - Normal colour (Approx.) $80 - pet birds may be more expensive
  • Description Of Adults:
  1. Length: Approx. 360 - 400 mm (or approx. 14 -16 inches)
  2. Colour ( "normal" colour ): Refer photo above (Click on photo to enlarge).
  3. Weight: Approx. 600 - 800 gms (or approx. 21 - 28 ozs)

Aviary Notes:

Level Of Knowledge Required:  Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced / Specialist Breeders Only.

Government Regulations & By-Laws:  Refer to " Government Laws " web page.

Housing Requirements:  Refer to " Housing Birds " web page for general details on the housing of Cockatoos or read on for specific details for this parrot.

An aviary of 4 to 5 metres long will allow these birds to be able to get adequate exercise.  The aviary should be about 1.2 to 1.5 metres wide and about 2.1 metres high.  Heavy gauge wire is necessary, preferably galvanized weldmesh.

The nest log should be left in the aviary year round as the Little Corella like to roost in the nest box during the non-breeding season.

Suitable non-toxic leafy branches can be placed in the aviary for the birds to chew up. This will entertain the birds, help minimize boredom and give the birds some beak exercise. Natural branches can be used for perches. These natural perches will be chewed by the birds and may need to be replaced regularly.

Diet / Feeding:  Refer to " Feeding Birds " web page for general details on the feeding of Cockatoos or read on for specific details for this parrot.

In the wild, Little Corellas normally feed on the ground consuming seeds of various grasses as well as eating other plants, roots and bulbs. 

Native foods include seeds of the Acacia, Eucalypt and the introduced Pine species along with the seeds of grasses and other plants. Branches, seeds and cones of these trees and other suitable native plants should be offered to the birds along with branches and fruiting bodies of the cotoneaster and hawthorn bushes.  This will provide them with hours of physical activity and mental stimulation as well as a varied diet.

Aviary diet should restrict the amount of Sunflower and safflower seed.  Other seeds include canary, corn, hulled oats, millet, milo, and wheat.

Other foods can include apple, orange, almonds, peanuts, vegetables such as broccoli, corn, peas and silverbeet.  Plain Madeira cake, and seeding grasses.  Many will eat insects such as grubs and mealworms.  Dry dog food can be offered.

Trays of turf or grass can be placed in the aviary for the birds to dig through as they would do in the wild.  This can provide some physical exercise as well as some mental stimulation.

Nesting:  A basic overview only.  Dimensions are typical / average and can vary widely, influenced by the owner's preferences and the birds preferences.  Parent bird's preferences can also be influenced by the size and type of nest-box / log in which the bird was hatched and reared.  If space allows, offering a choice of sizes and types of logs or nest-boxes, and placed in various locations within the aviary, can allow the parent birds to make their own choice.  Once a pair has chosen a specific nest-box/log and been successful in it, offer that one to them each breeding season.  Try and keep that one for their exclusive use.  Once a pair has chosen its log or nest-box, the other ones can generally be removed.  If the "spare" boxes are to be removed and moved to another flight, ensure the log / nest-box is cleaned to ensure the receptacle has the minimal contamination of mites, parasites and pathogens.

  • Nesting months:  June to October.
  • Log / Nest-box:
    • Length / depth  600 mm (or approx. 24 inches)
    • Log internal diameter approx. 300 mm. (or approx. 12 inches)
    • Nest-box internal dimensions approx. 300 mm square (or approx. 12 inches square)
    • Diameter of entrance hole approx. ? mm (or approx. ? inches)
    • Inspection hole (square or round) 100 mm (or approx 4 inches)
    • A removable top / lid can be a useful access point for inspections and for cleaning.
    • Location and height of log / nest-box = high in the covered part of the aviary but not too close to the roof to be affected by heat from the roof in the summer months.
    • Angle of log or nest box = vertical through to nearly horizontal.
  • Nesting log / nest-box material: Decomposed non-toxic saw dust, wood shavings or other suitable material/s.
  • Who incubates the egg/s: Hen / cock / both share.

Timber nest-boxes generally require a climbing structure attached inside the box below the entrance hole. Both logs and nests need an entrance hole/opening about 100mm (about 4 inches) from the top. Many species of parrots like the entrance hole to be just big enough to squeeze through.

More details on parrot nestboxes/logs and a selection of parrot nestbox/log photos can be found on the "nests", "parrot nests" and "parrot nestbox photos" web pages.  Click on "Up" then "Nests" then "parrot nests" and "parrot nestbox photos" in the navigation bars.

Breeding: Egg Colour White.  Clutch/s per year 2, occasionally 3.  Eggs per nest 2 - 4.  Incubation approx. 24 days.  Fledge approx. 6 - 8 weeks.  Independent approx. another 3 - 4 weeks. Young are fed by both parent birds.

Artificial incubation and hand rearing or fostering will not be covered on this web site.  It is too complex and diverse in nature to be attempted here.

Health Issues:  Refer to "Avian Health Issues" web page for information and references.

  • Worming and parasite control and Quarantine requirements of new bird/s or sick bird/s are considered to require veterinary advice and therefore not covered on this web site.  Refer "Avian Health Issues" web page option.
  • Avian medicine is advancing at a rapid pace.  Keep updating your knowledge and skills.

General References:  Refer to references listed on "Book References" web page.

Specific References:

Check next batch of references!

  • Australian Aviculture
  • A/A Vol 60 No. 4 Apr 2006 Page 71.
  • A/A Vol 58 No. 10 Oct 2004 Page 217 - 218 (Cover photo = Sept 2004 issue).
  • A/A Vol 58 No. 4 Apr 2004 Page 86.
  • A/A Vol 53 No. 8 Aug 1999 Page167-169
  • A/A Vol 51 No. 3 Mar 1997 Page 58-62 (Inc photo)
  • A/A Vol 29 No. 9 Sept 1975 Page 132-134
  • A/A Vol 29 No. 1 Jan 1975 Page 13-14
  • A/A Vol  9 No 12 Dec 1955 Page 143.
  • Australian Aviculture
  • A/A Vol 48 No. 3 Mar 1994 Page 49-50 (Inc photo)
  • Australian Birdkeeper
  • ABK Vol 18 Issue 11. Oct-Nov 2005 Page 669-673 (Corellas & Cockatoos of  inland Australia)
  • ABK Vol 7 Issue 4. Aug-Sept 1994 Page 186-188
  • ABK Vol 4 Issue 10. Aug-Sept 1991 Page 476-479

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