Comments on the Taxonomic Position of the Galah Cacatua roseicapilla

Abstract

Behavioural and morphological features of the cockatoo genus Cacatua were examined in an attempt to identify characters diagnostic for the genus, and thereby clarify the taxonomic position of the Galah Cacatua roseicapilla. It is shown that the Galah has 9 out of 10 'definitive Cacatua characteristics', the same score as seven other species. The remaining five species may possess all 10 characters. On these 'traditional' criteria, the Galah falls well within Cacatua, a result in agreement also with biochemical data.