This magnificent bird often congregates in large, boisterous flocks—sometimes numbering in the thousands—particularly near bodies of water.

The little Corella, scientifically known as Cacatua sanguinea, is a tiny white cockatoo that typically weighs 525 g (1,157 pounds), has a weight range of 370-630 g (13-22 ounces), and a length of 35-41 cm (14-16 inches). Although smaller in stature, it resembles both the Long-billed and Western corellas. The length of its upper and lower jaws are identical, setting it apart from those species. Specifically, unlike the long-billed corella, it does not have an orange neck bar.

When compared to males, females are marginally smaller across the board.

The Little Corella is a white cockatoo that is native to southern New Guinea and Australia. Other names for this bird include Short-billed Corella, Nаked-eyed Cockatoo, Bloodspotted Cockatoo, and Little Cockatoo.

Its Yindjibarndi nаme was “Birdirra” among the Pilbara’s central and western indigenous peoples. Their gentle feathers were employed in traditional dances and rituals to adorn heads and bracelets, and these birds were also kept as pets.

From the eastern coastal plains to the arid deserts of central Australia, they inhabit a variety of habitats. They also inhabit cities and eat on grass and fields, so you might see them in places like Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, and Melbourne. Their ability to damage trees by nibbling the bark of tiny twigs makes them agricultural pests in some locations.

Although they will sometimes forage among shrubs and trees, small corellas spend most of their time feeding on the ground. They feed on grasses grown in cities as well as other cultivated and natural seeds. Their diet mostly consists of cereal grains including corn, wheat, and barley, making them potential agricultural pests.

Termite mounds, tree holes, or cliff crevices are common places for nesting throughout the breeding season (May–October). In their large flocks, which can number in the thousands, small corellas frequently interact with other bird species, including galahs, sulfur-crested cockatoos, and red-tailed black cockatoos. They spend the night in trees, then take flight in the morning to eat, and then come back in the late afternoon. Because of the great distances that these flocks can travel between their feeding and roosting places, it is necessary for them to fly to watering holes twice a day in desert regions.

They sound like a combination of screeches and high-pitched notes, not dissimilar to the sulfur-crested cockatoo. You can hear the piercing shriek of a large group of birds from miles away.

Small corellas are allowed to be shot, trapped, or gassed by landowners in South Australia without a permission since they are considered “unprotected native wildlife.” Each year, a certain number of wild Little Corellas can be taken for poultry purposes with the help of permits.