Gang-gang Cockatoo - profile

Indicative distribution

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Key:

known

predicted

The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.

Scientific name: Callocephalon fimbriatum

Conservation status in NSW: Endangered

Commonwealth status: Endangered

Gazetted date: 05 Apr 2024

Profile last updated: 10 Apr 2024

Description

Gang-gang Cockatoos are one of the more distinctive and charismatic members of Australia's avifauna. These birds are primarily slate-grey, with the males easily identified by their scarlet head and wispy crest, while females have a grey head and crest and feathers edged with salmon pink on the underbelly. They range in length from 32 to 37 cm, with a wingspan of 62 to 76 cm. The call has been likened to a creaking gate or cork being pulled from a bottle.

Distribution

The Gang-gang Cockatoo is distributed from southern Victoria through south- and central-eastern New South Wales. In New South Wales, the Gang-gang Cockatoo is distributed from the south-east coast to the Hunter region, and inland to the Central Tablelands and south-west slopes. It occurs regularly in the Australian Capital Territory. It is rare at the extremities of its range, with isolated records known from as far north as Coffs Harbour and as far west as Mudgee.

Habitat and ecology

In spring and summer, generally found in tall mountain forests and woodlands, particularly in heavily timbered and mature wet sclerophyll forests.
In autumn and winter, the species often moves to lower altitudes in drier more open eucalypt forests and woodlands,particularly box-gum and box-ironbark assemblages, or in dry forest in coastal areas and often found in urban areas.
May also occur in sub-alpine Snow Gum (Eucalyptus pauciflora ) woodland and occasionally in temperate rainforests.
Favours old growth forest and woodland attributes for nesting and roosting. Nests are located in hollows that are 7 cm in diameter or larger in eucalypts and 3 metres or more above the ground.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

Threats

Loss of key breeding and foraging habitat from intensive wildfire events and inappropriate hazard reduction burns
Loss and degradation of breeding and foraging habitat from rural and urban development
Loss of breeding and foraging habitat from forestry management practices
Climate change impacts to habitat suitability and distribution
Psittacine cirovirus disease (PCD)
Lack of knowledge of locations of key breeding habitat and breeding ecology and success
Infestation of habitat by invasive weeds.
Aggressive exclusion from forest and woodland habitat by over abundant Noisy Miners.

Recovery strategies

A Saving Our Species conservation project is currently being developed for this species and will be available soon. For information on how you can contribute to this species' recovery, see the Activities to assist this species section below.

Activities to assist this species

Ensure known breeding habitat is protected from wildfire and hazard reduction burns
Ensure that impacts to known or likely breeding and foraging habitat are avoided, mitigated or offset as part of development applications and approvals
Ensure that forestry management and planning practices avoid and minimises impacts to breeding and foraging habitat
Landholders undertaking private native forestry activities should adequately protect and buffer known or likely Gang-gang Cockatoo habitat
Conduct surveys and research on the locations of key breeding sites, and measure the breeding ecology and success of the Gang-gang Cockatoo
Identify key breeding and foraging habitat on private lands and work with landholders to secure and manage these areas, including the use of stewardship and incentive agreements

Information sources

Cameron, M. (2007) Cockatoos. (CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood)
Davis, A., Taylor, C.E. and Major. R.E. (2011) Do fire and rainfall drive spatial and temporal population shifts in parrots? A case study using urban parrot populations. Landscapes and Urban Planning 100(3): 295-301
Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW) (2007) Terrestrial Vertebrate Fauna of the Greater Southern Sydney Region. Volume 2: Fauna of Conservation Concern including priority pest species. (DECC NSW, Hurstville)
Higgins, P.J. (ed.) (1999) Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Volume 4: Parrots to Dollarbird.
Murray Catchment Management Authority and Office of Environment and Heritage (2012) New South Wales Murray Biodiversity Management Plan: A guide to terrestrial biodiversity investment priorities in the central and eastern NSW Murray catchment. (Murray CMA, Albury)
NSW Scientific Committee (2005) Gang-gang Cockatoo - Vulnerable species determination - final.
NSW Scientific Committee (2008) Gang-gang Cockatoo Callocephalon fimbriatum - Review of Current Information in NSW

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

Australian Alps	Snowy Mountains	Known	None
Nandewar	Peel	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Barrington	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Karuah Manning	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Mummel Escarpment	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Tomalla	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Upper Hunter	Known	None
NSW South Western Slopes	Capertee Valley	Known	None
NSW South Western Slopes	Inland Slopes	Known	None
NSW South Western Slopes	Lower Slopes	Known	None
Ocean	Batemans Shelf	Known	None
Ocean	Hawkesbury Shelf	Known	None
Ocean	Twofold Shelf	Known	None
Other State	ACT	Known	None
Other State	Jervis Bay Territory	Known	None
Other State	VIC	Known	None
South East Corner	Bateman	Known	None
South East Corner	East Gippsland Lowlands	Known	None
South East Corner	South East Coastal Ranges	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Bathurst	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Bondo	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Bungonia	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Capertee Uplands	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Crookwell	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Hill End	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Kanangra	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Kybeyan-Gourock	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Monaro	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Murrumbateman	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Oberon	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Orange	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Burragorang	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Cumberland	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Ettrema	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Hunter	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Illawarra	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Jervis	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Kerrabee	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Moss Vale	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Pittwater	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Sydney Cataract	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Wollemi	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Wyong	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Yengo	Known	None

Sounds

Images

Male Gang-Gang Cockatoo, Canberra Image 1 of 4.
View slideshow.

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