. 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 |
- 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:
- Length: Approx. 360 - 400 mm (or approx. 14 -16
inches)
- Colour ( "normal" colour ): Refer
photo above
(Click on photo to enlarge).
- 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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