Variation in the lengths of wing and exposed culmen in the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo in Australia

Abstract

Variation has been shown in the lengths of the wing and exposed culmen in 30 freshly-killed Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, Cacatua galerita Latham, from Dry Plains, New South Wales, and in 107 reference skins from localities throughout Australia. An analysis has been made to test the value of the variations as indicators of sex and subspecies; the results showed that there may be slight differences between the sexes. The material at present available allowed the definite separation of only two races – galerita and fitzroyi.