Creating and Ethogram for the Galah Cockatoo - Abnormal/Stereotypical Behavior

It has certainly been a while since I've had time to get onto the forums. Between work, starting university and caring for my own birds I've only just gotten a week off to enjoy some down time (and catching up/researching, yay).
For one of my modules I have to create an Ethogram (which is a list/catalogue of behaviors) for a chosen species. Being a parrot lover, I chose to do the Galah cockatoo (Eolophus roseicapilla). I will be going out to observe said animal(s) in a couple of weeks time for a few hours. The birds I am to watch are in a zoo, which has a flock (of I don't know how many birds) in a flight/aviary.
The main focus of this observation is to look for abnormal/stereotypical behaviors. The zoo (and our homes) is a far cry from their native home in Australia, and being captive with a limited space, walls, bars/wires and both people and keepers peering at them it would be expected to see some abnormal behavior. (An abnormal behavior is a behavior that is not commonly displayed by wild conspesifics, while a stereotypy is an action that is invariable, repeated and has no function or goal - both have the possibility of being damaging or non-damaging to the animal).
There is a lack of study around psittaformes, and Amazons (genus Amazona) make up a large majority of study work, with Macaws (genus Ara) and the Grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus) being other more commonly studied species.

The aim of my observation is a gauge the welfare of the animal(s) based on the prevalence, or lack, of abnormal/sterotypy behavior. From my own research, I have found that, as well as environmental conditions, their physiological conditions also play an important part in behavior (physiological meaning the internal bodily functions of an animal, such as the endocrine system (hormones), immune system, nutrition, and health).
Avian species are, much like reptiles, hard to know when something is wrong. Abnormal or stereotypical behaviors can be an indicator of poor welfare conditions, poor health/nutrition, illness/disease and discomfort. (So, as someone who aims to provide care for birds -and other animals- its' important for me to understand behavior).

Here is a list of abnormal/stereotypical behaviors that I have in my ethogram so far. It is unlikely complete, which is partially why I posted here. If any of you wonderful parronts have suggestions I would be very grateful for input from cockatoo owners, as I do not care for a larger cockatoo myself. I will also mention this is species-specific, so only the Galah is covered in this ethogram.

• Vocalization/Alarm Call - A scree call with raised crest and fanned wings.
• Feather Picking/Pecking - Pulling or pecking at feathers (not removal).
• Feather Destructive Behavior - Actively damaging feathers. Includes pulling out/removal of attached feathers, chewing on feathers and breaking feathers.
• Pacing - Pacing back and forth on perch.
• Sham-chewing/Chewing non-food object - Chewing/biting on non-food objects (such as wires/bars).
• Head Bob - Repeated bobbing of head/whole body.
• Self Mutilation - Actions that cause damage to tissues and body parts. This may be the removal of flesh, self biting or amputation.
• Route Tracing - Continued and invariable following of set route(s) around enclosure. (Wild caught birds often exhibit a wider range of routes, whilst captive bred will commonly have a smaller range.)

Obviously these behaviors are not necessarily indicators of poor welfare or poor health/illness/disease. Every bird has their own quirks and personality. Training also changes behavior (for better or worse) and these are just potential signs of issues, especially FDB (Feather Damaging Behavior - in other words, feather plucking). It is highly advisable to take birds that have had a change in behavior/demeanor to a CAV (Certified Avian Veterinarian) to perform checks and a diagnosis. Have tests run, including blood and fecal samples (poop is a great indicator of health and condition).


Understanding behavior is also a good tool for owners/carers. A change in behavior or the display of particular repetitive behaviors can help both a carer and their vet determine if there are problems.

I can certainly go on and on about subjects. I just thought I would share (some) work I have been doing whilst not active on the forum, which may help some people. And to also get some feedback myself.
I am not joking when I say there is a lack of study around psittaformes. The majority of behavioral study has been conducted on primates and other mammals, which is a shame because we have so much to learn about avian behavior. Many parrots have intelligence on par with, if not exceeding, some primates.

How did I know you were british before I even clicked on your name?....

I don't see any aggressive things on your list, attacking flockmates bird or human unless thats what you mean by feather plucking, but it can also mean bites, or anything to do with pooping (passive aggressive at least I've found sometimes). Chewing may be an indicator but then again...parrots....the love to chew....my conure has been trying to eat the little hook tag off my shirt for the last hour (literally not figuratively) and he's as content as he could possibly be.


Have fun doing science.!

clark_conure said:

How did I know you were british before I even clicked on your name?....

I don't see any aggressive things on your list, attacking flockmates bird or human unless thats what you mean by feather plucking, but it can also mean bites, or anything to do with pooping (passive aggressive at least I've found sometimes). Chewing may be an indicator but then again...parrots....the love to chew....my conure has been trying to eat the little hook tag off my shirt for the last hour (literally not figuratively) and he's as content as he could possibly be.


Have fun doing science.!

Click to expand...

Aggression would be another thing to add to the list.
Feather plucking is what it says, the removal of of feathers. Which may happen in fights or during disputes.
Aside from visitors and keepers there shouldn't be any physical human interaction (because they're in an enclosure that is not open to the public). I would hope that, in a zoo, they don't keep a highly aggressive bird in an enclosure with others.

With this ethogram I have to do both instantiations and continuous sampling of a focal individual (single animal), which means I have to stand and observe the bird for a set period of time, noting down what they do and when. So a smaller set of behaviors makes this easier and more focused on what I am looking for (in this case, welfare). I have been asked to keep the range of behaviors I am looking for concise. My actual ethogram, the one I will be using during observation, does include deification and other "common", self-maintenance behaviors (preening, allo-preening, foraging, feeding, play etc.).

What give me away as British by the way?
And your conure may find the attempted removal of your hook-tag entertaining.

And yes, science. It is fun.

All the Latin genus species literally in italics which is correct. An american would never bother......

Also the in parenthesis adding information (which I also seam to do even though American) is like Richard Dawkins books and Douglas Adams and other British things I've read.

one more thing, wait two more things

weight or say body mass/strength....would the zoo let you weigh the birds over time to coincide with your observational data?

also...(and this might be impossible to track/measure) but food selectivity. Like a bird will only eat the red pellets or the safflower seeds and nothing else.

Did you list *the absence* of behaviour as well?
Many Zoo-animals have learned to "zoom out", sit/stand still and stare into space (not necessarily accompanied with stereotypic movements)... the wellknown "nobody is currently at home" look in their eyes.
Not something you will find with birds/ animals in the wild (they cannot afford it of course; do not pay attention means death will creep up) but seen all too often in captive birds, even those in a home-environment.

G'day Amadeo and may I congratulate you on your choice of study! Galahs are among the most excellent of birds, not only for their unique colouration, but also for their affectionate and easygoing personalities. I agree with you: it's high time a lot more study was done on psittacine behaviour, if only to ensure their better treatment in captivity.

Having lived with wild galahs in their natural environment, I can't imagine how they would survive happily anywhere else. They fit into Australia like a hand into a glove, fully exploiting their niche in the environment and managing to adapt when things go awry (for example in the spectacular droughts and floods we experience here).

Just FYI, it used to be a rare occurrence to see a galah anywhere east of the Great Dividing range (this is during my childhood in the fifties). Gradually, with droughts and a subtle change of land-use (eg. changing from wheat production to other crops like oilseeds), the galahs moved slowly east. In the seventies and eighties, they were very common where I live (Newcastle, just north of Sydney). Now, they're declining again on the east coast and no one knows why.

There's a drought on at present and we're seeing an increase of 'unusual' birds as we often do during such events (eg. Yellow-tailed Black Cockies in my back yard as well as a lot more Rosellas and King Parrots), but the galahs aren't that common. Also, we only see them in twos and threes instead of the larger (one or two hundred) flocks we're used to.

All this worries me, as galahs are an incredibly adaptable bird and able to derive a living from lots of habitats. I wonder what's going on. Perhaps your study will help shed some light on the social aspects of Eolophus behaviour?

Do you mind if I ask what course you're studying? Are you able to specialise in ornithology? Back when I majored in zoology, our Uni didn't have the special branches available, so all you could do was a general degree studying all the Classes of animals. It was fun and I'd do it again tomorrow, but I would have loved to have done the bird specialty.

Finally, I've only just (yesterday) found out that the blooming taxonomists have changed the classification of corellas (one of whom has recently joined our flock)! They no longer belong solely to the genus Cacatua, but have been given a sub-genus of their own: Licmetis. How rude! I can't find an etymology for the word beyond a reference in Wiki that it derives from a Wiradhuri (aboriginal) name. Hah! Bumbug! Eolophus was bad enough!

Betrisher said:

G'day Amadeo and may I congratulate you on your choice of study! Galahs are among the most excellent of birds, not only for their unique colouration, but also for their affectionate and easygoing personalities. I agree with you: it's high time a lot more study was done on psittacine behaviour, if only to ensure their better treatment in captivity.

Having lived with wild galahs in their natural environment, I can't imagine how they would survive happily anywhere else. They fit into Australia like a hand into a glove, fully exploiting their niche in the environment and managing to adapt when things go awry (for example in the spectacular droughts and floods we experience here).

Just FYI, it used to be a rare occurrence to see a galah anywhere east of the Great Dividing range (this is during my childhood in the fifties). Gradually, with droughts and a subtle change of land-use (eg. changing from wheat production to other crops like oilseeds), the galahs moved slowly east. In the seventies and eighties, they were very common where I live (Newcastle, just north of Sydney). Now, they're declining again on the east coast and no one knows why.

There's a drought on at present and we're seeing an increase of 'unusual' birds as we often do during such events (eg. Yellow-tailed Black Cockies in my back yard as well as a lot more Rosellas and King Parrots), but the galahs aren't that common. Also, we only see them in twos and threes instead of the larger (one or two hundred) flocks we're used to.

All this worries me, as galahs are an incredibly adaptable bird and able to derive a living from lots of habitats. I wonder what's going on. Perhaps your study will help shed some light on the social aspects of Eolophus behaviour?

Do you mind if I ask what course you're studying? Are you able to specialise in ornithology? Back when I majored in zoology, our Uni didn't have the special branches available, so all you could do was a general degree studying all the Classes of animals. It was fun and I'd do it again tomorrow, but I would have loved to have done the bird specialty.

Finally, I've only just (yesterday) found out that the blooming taxonomists have changed the classification of corellas (one of whom has recently joined our flock)! They no longer belong solely to the genus Cacatua, but have been given a sub-genus of their own: Licmetis. How rude! I can't find an etymology for the word beyond a reference in Wiki that it derives from a Wiradhuri (aboriginal) name. Hah! Bumbug! Eolophus was bad enough!

Click to expand...

Yes, avian behaviour in general is a dark spot in past and current research. Thankfully the university I am studying at has a mixed aviary, with a small collection including a couple of Amazon parrots, Indian ring necks, a lone conure (who came to them due to an owner being unable to care for him), a bonded pair of conures, lots of budgerigars, cockateils and lovebirds. They also have doves, quail, miner birds and a large member of the corvid family (not sure on species).
My course is in general Animal Science and Welfare (specialising in health care management, which means I will be learning first aid/basic nursing skills), even though I will be studying a large variety of animals I am focusing what I can on aves. When I visited the library I was exited to find shelves filled with avian behaviour, wild life, medicine, anatomy... Every I could want to read (including plenty of books specialising in psittacines).
I agree with their original habitat being the best place for them (I would love the chance to study the lives and behaviour of a parrot in its home range). Homes, cages and aviaries are completely different and it's that reason I am doing this study on the Galah. Behaviour can be an excellent indicator of welfare and health, so it is important we understand what they are saying (in their language) so we can provide the best care we can.
I do hope to specialise in ornithology in the future.

I have read the galah is a very widespread species. Hearing they are in decline, clearly shows they are having difficulty. Typically they should congregate in large flocks, sticking with a bonded partner, so it is somewhat unusual hearing about them forming smaller groups. If the climate/weather has been hard that is likely a cause.

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ChristaNL said:

Did you list *the absence* of behaviour as well?
Many Zoo-animals have learned to "zoom out", sit/stand still and stare into space (not necessarily accompanied with stereotypic movements)... the wellknown "nobody is currently at home" look in their eyes.
Not something you will find with birds/ animals in the wild (they cannot afford it of course; do not pay attention means death will creep up) but seen all too often in captive birds, even those in a home-environment.

Click to expand...

It is something I have listed in my Ethogram. I will make sure to make special note if it happens. Galahs should definitely not be sitting/standing still like a statue.
Thank you.

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clark_conure said:

one more thing, wait two more things

weight or say body mass/strength....would the zoo let you weigh the birds over time to coincide with your observational data?

also...(and this might be impossible to track/measure) but food selectivity. Like a bird will only eat the red pellets or the safflower seeds and nothing else.

Click to expand...

These would be wonderful things to consider and measure, if I were allowed to do so.
Sadly my observation will be strictly hands-off. I am looking at their behaviour according to current care and housing/enrichment.
I may be able to ask a keeper about current weight/body score and diet. If I the opportunity in the future, I would definitely consider these.