Where “Cockatoo” Comes From
Cockatoos are large parrots with a lift-up crest. The sulphur-crested cockatoo is the white one with a yellow crest that you see across eastern Australia, and the black cockatoos live in the west and the north.
They’re very clever and loud, and in some cities they’ve learned to open wheelie bins to find food.
“A cockatoo screeched from the tree.”
How Aussies Actually Use It
You’ll hear it in the bush, in the suburbs and in jokes about noise.
In Real Life
Cockatoos are famous for their screech and for their cheek. In Sydney, they’ve learned to lift bin lids and share the trick with other birds. They chew timber, window frames and even outdoor furniture, which frustrates homeowners. Please don’t feed them, because it can cause health and behaviour problems.
Quick Questions
How do cockatoos open bins?
They lever the lid with their beaks and feet. Studies in Sydney suggest the habit spread by copying.
Is a galah a cockatoo?
Yes. A galah is a pink-and-grey cockatoo.
Say It Like an Aussie
Say it: KOK-uh-too.
In conversation:
- The cockatoos woke us at dawn.
- A cockatoo opened my bin.
- Cockatoos are loud birds.
Good to know: Cockatoos are clever and can damage houses and gardens. Wildlife agencies advise against feeding them.
See also: Galah, Magpie, Bin Chicken
🎓 Want to sound like a true Aussie?
Watch Down Under English on YouTube for real Australian pronunciation, slang lessons, and culture.
Watch on YouTube →