Sulphur Crested Cockatoos have multiple subspecies like Lesser, Medium, and Greater Sulphur Crested Cockatoo; all belong to the same Genus (Cacatua) and Phylum. Since all subspecies of Sulphur Crested cockatoos look very similar, they are hard to distinguish. But they also have some differences that I have shared in this article.
Let’s talk about how these sub-species are different.
| Difference | Lesser Sulphur Crested Cockatoo | Medium Sulphur Crested Cockatoo | Greater Sulphur Crested Cockatoo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cacatua Sulphurea | Cacatua Galerita Eleonora | Cacatua Galerita Galerita |
| Second Name | Yellow-Crested Cockatoo | Eleonora Cockatoo | Same (Greater Sulphur cockatoo) |
| Size | 34 cm | 44 cm | 50 to 55cm |
| Weight | 340 grams | 404 to 602 grams | 700 to 950 grams |
| Plumage | White | White | White |
| Patch | Pale yellow patch on cheeks and throat and underside of the wings | Some of them develop their yellow Patch under the wings and on the body | No patch, but the underside of the wings is tinged with yellow color |
| Habitat | Indonesian islands | Native to Aru Islands | Australia |
| Population | 2,500 | 2,500 to 10,000 | 10,0000+ |
| Conservation Status | Critically Endangered | Threatened | Least Concerned |
Differences in Appearance
At first glance, all look the same but when observed closely, they have different sizes, weights, and shades.
Feathers (Plumage)
Years of evolution and different habitats have given them minor color feather color differences.
- Lesser Sulphur Crested Cockatoo has yellowish feathers on the throat and cheeks. It has white plumage with bluish, white orbital skin.
- Medium Sulphur Crested Cockatoo has yellowish-orange patches under their wings and crest.
- Greater Sulphur Crested Cockatoo is totally white, except its crest is bright yellow.
Beak (Bill)
Cockatoo’s beak (Bill) is very strong, and they are in different colors. Their beaks are strong enough in order to crack and crush the nuts they like. The beak is very necessary for their survival.
- Lesser Sulphur Crested Cockatoo has a slightly thin and small beak. Its small beak is advantageous when collecting insects from trees.
- Medium Sulphur Crested Cockatoo has a small but broad beak. Despite being small, its beak is strong enough to crack open large nuts.
- Greater Sulphur Crested Cockatoo has a large hooked beak. It has the strongest beak among subspecies.
Size (Length and Width):
- The Lesser Sulphur Crested Cockatoo Is 34 cm long, and its weight is about 340 grams. It is the smallest and lightest among all sub-species.
- Medium Sulphur Crested Cockatoo is 44 cm, and its weight is 404 to 602 grams. It is smaller than Greater Sulphur Crested cockatoo but bigger than Lesser Sulphur Crested cockatoo.
- Greater Sulphur Crested Cockatoo is the largest parrot species of Sulphur Crested cockatoo. They are 50cm long and weigh about 700 to 950 grams.
Differences in Habitat and Population
Generally, Sulphur Crested cockatoos belong to Australia and Indonesia. But each sub-species has a particular habitat and different populations.
- Lesser Sulphur Crested Cockatoo lives in East Timor and Sunda (Indonesian Island). It likes forests bordering green fields, wheat fields, and grassland. Its population has been introduced recently in Hong Kong as it is critically endangered. (1) According to an estimate, only 2500 Lesser Sulphur Crested cockatoos are left in the world.
- Medium Sulphur Crested Cockatoo is native to Aru Island (Eastern Indonesia). It likes green vegetated areas and wild forests with watercourses. To conserve this sub-species, its population has been introduced in other Indonesian regions like Kai Islands. According to reports, they are not critically endangered but their population is around 2500-10,000 across the globe. (2)
- Greater Sulphur Crested Cockatoo is native to Australia (from cape york to Tasmania). It has a wide range of habitats. It is the least concerned sub-species of Sulphur Crested cockatoos. However, many organizations are still working to protect i population. It has been introduced in Palu Island (Indonesia), Perth (Australia), and New Zealand. Among all sub-species, Greater Sulphur Crested cockatoos are the most abundant subspecies; their population is more than 10,000 and their endangerment status is least concerned. (3)
Final Thoughts
Lesser, Medium and Greater Sulphur Crested cockatoos have very minor differences. A prominent difference is their size and population. Lesser Sulphur Crested cockatoos are the smallest and least populated whereas Greater Sulphur Crested cockatoos are the greatest and most populated sub-species among all.
