Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla) flock flying in Western Australia

© Yva Momatiuk and John Eastcott/Minden Picture

Birds of a feather…. A flock of galahs on the move

Though the humble galah (known scientifically as Eolophus roseicapilla) is instantly recognisable for its rose-pink and grey colour combination, you’ll likely hear one before you see it. That’s largely thanks to the bird’s high-pitched screech – typically heard at night as it roosts. The noise is made all the more powerful when part of a flock – with numbers reaching up to 1,000 individuals. In warmer areas, like these galahs found in Western Australia, flocks will spend much of their day taking shelter from the heat amongst shrubs and trees, often near water. Luckily, the galah is well-adapted to Australia’s arid conditions, capable of tolerating high temperatures, long periods of dehydration, and can even drink salty water.