How to identify corellas

Bird ID

1 Mar

4 minute read

Learn how to identify Australia's three corella species. You will discover a few key body features that will help you quickly identify the Little, Long-billed and Western Corella.

Little Corella

Australia’s smallest corella can be identified by its head crest, splash of pink in front of its eye and its shorter upper bill (known as the ‘upper mandible’). It is widespread throughout Australia, although large gaps separate some populations.

Listen to its call

A Little Corella is standing on the grass. It looks like a white cockatoo with a blue-eye ring and white crest on its head

Long-billed Corella

The Long-billed Corella can be identified by its head crest, orangey-red around its eye, orangey-red on its throat and a longer upper bill. It is mainly found in south-east Australia but there are a few other populations around the country that might have been established by escaped caged birds.

Listen to its call

A Long-billed Corella is perched on a tree. It has splashes of red on its face and neck. The rest of its body is white.

Western Corella

The Western Corella is almost a hybrid of the Little and Long-billed. It has a shorter head crest, red/pink in front of its eye and white neck like the Little Corella. But it has a longer upper bill, like a Long-billed Corella. It is only found in southern Western Australia.

Listen to its call