Except the presence of yellow and that the size was compared to the ScC. If a hybrid between just corellas, it would be expected to be similar size to them
(or maybe smaller than the Long-billed Corella), which is not suggested by Charmian’s comment. And that she mentions a tiny crest. Which is why I suggested ScC as likely in its genetic history. I did a quick read of that article and I don’t see that it explains
that presence of yellow in this bird more easily by whatever is being explained there, than the simple option of inheritance of the yellow producing system from a cockatoo parent or grandparent. Cockatoos are common enough that they could be involved.
https://ebird.org/species/x00920?siteLanguage=en_AU
And “Yes, hybrids between cockatoo and corella species, such as the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo and Little Corella, are possible and have been observed.”
https://www.google.com/search?q=cockatoo+corella+hybrid&rlz=1C1GGRV_enAU751AU751&oq=cockatoo+corella&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBwgFEAAYgAQyEAgAEAAYkQIY4wIYgAQYigUyEAgBEC4YkQIY1AIYgAQYigUyEAgCEC4YkQIY1AIYgAQYigUyEAgDEC4YkQIY1AIYgAQYigUyEAgEEC4YkQIY1AIYgAQYigUyBwgFEAAYgAQyCAgGEAAYFhgeMggIBxAAGBYYHjIICAgQABgWGB4yCAgJEAAYFhge0gEKMTE2OTNqMGoxNagCCLACAfEFCY6OCiziVrXxBQmOjgos4la1&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Philip
From: Canberrabirds [
On Behalf Of Geoffrey Dabb via Canberrabirds
Sent: Wednesday, 19 March, 2025 1:51 PM
To: 'Charmian Lawson'; 'COG'
Subject: Re: [Canberrabirds] Is this a corella cockatoo hybrid?
Thanks Charmian, always good to get past image-specific explanations. Well, certainly interesting. The first thing is whether we see any Long-bill intrusion, as represented in the resident hybrids often
reported around Canberra. To me, the bill on your bird slightly favours that possibility, but some might see it as at the limit for a Little. That kind of hybrid might have an aviary history to complicate its genetic background. The extent of colour is
consistent with a Little. (Attached backyard photo from 2010, example of hybrid out of focus on left, presumed Little on right.)
I see that shifts from yellow to red and vice versa have been the subject of recent research. If this is an example of that kind of colour variation, the coloration here (yellow for red) would be a rare
example of a gene abnormality.
https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(17)31678-0?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS0960982217316780%3Fshowall%3Dtrue
I don’t see any S-c Cockatoo in your bird. I’d be interested in other views.
From: Charmian Lawson <>
Sent: Wednesday, 19 March 2025 12:21 PM
To: Geoffrey Dabb <>; 'COG' <>
Subject: Re: [Canberrabirds] Is this a corella cockatoo hybrid?
No, Geoffrey. The bird was coloured exactly as it appears in the photo, which is why I found it so interesting...
Certainly hybridish Charmian. Looks like our usual Long-billed x Little Corella with the red/yellow colour settings adrift in either the camera or the computer
From: Canberrabirds <>
On Behalf Of Charmian Lawson via Canberrabirds
Sent: Wednesday, 19 March 2025 8:44 AM
To: COG <>
Subject: [Canberrabirds] Is this a corella cockatoo hybrid?
I am wondering if this is a hybrid corella cockatoo? It was in our yard in Holder this morning with a group of cockatoos. It is almost the same size as a cockatoo but has the
blue ring around the eye, and a tiny crest of sorts, and yellow patches........
