Galah

Eolophus roseicapillus

Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot was the first to describe the species, in 1817.

Eolophus is Greek for dawn crest, a reference to the rose-pink crest; roseicapillus is Latin for rosy-capped.

The name ‘galah’ is derived from gilaa, a word found in Yuwaalaraay and neighbouring Aboriginal languages of north-western New South Wales.

Ebenezer Edward Gostelow, The Galah (Rose-breasted Cockatoo), Kakaoё roseicapilla 1928 (adult male, above; adult female, below)

Author’s note: Adult female Galahs have red eyes, whereas the male’s are dark brown.

William T. Cooper, Galah (Eolophus roseicapillus roseicapillus)
1970 (adult male)

Author’s note: The plumage of the Galah varies regionally in the degree of pink in the crown and crest, the shape of the crest, the colour and texture of the eye-ring, and other more subtle differences. The first Galahs were collected at Shark Bay, Western Australia, where their crown is quite pink, inspiring their scientific name, roseicapillus.