Galah sub species

There are three recognized galah subspecies, the eastern(, E. r. albiceps), the western( E. r. roseicapillus), and then the northern(E. r. kuhli). Each has their own set of traits, I wrote the main differences and attached images so the small differences are easily seen.

Keep in mind, to get the bumpy red or white eye ring a bird needs to be exposed to a lot of sunlight. Most companion parrots, unless kept in a aviary, rarely get the full eye ring. Because of this many pet galahs have a smooth light grey/white eye ring. There is also a lot of variation in color intensity and size, my galah Rosie only weighs 295 grams, she is pretty small! But that doesn't make her a Khuli subspecies, in fact all her other traits make her out to be a eastern.


E. r. albiceps
If you're outside of australia this is probably what you have seen. They have a bumpy red eye ring, more prominent in males with some females completely lacking it.







E. r. kuhli
The Kuhli subspecies is the most petite, and also have a smaller crest. They tend to be a little lighter, with a prominent red eye ring.





(young)



E. r. albiceps

The western subspecies is easily recognized by it's warty white eye ring and the way it's pink crest goes further down it's neck and frames the cheek feathers. This subspecies is leaner than the other two. They also have a large full crest

Please feel free to post photos of your own galah, ask for help on the subspecies, or just post to share the galah love :heart:

Here's Rosie, I almost 100% sure she's a eastern galah.

Heres my Owen helping with homework [he really wants her pencil ]

Ah, I see what you mean with Alice. The Western has a significantly different crest shape by the look of it, giving the back of their heads an almost Major Mitchell shape, but obviously with the recumbent rather than recursive front part. Alice and Rosie aren't actually that dissimilar, certainly in build. Alice is maybe a touch lighter in the chest, and her eyes a shade darker (none of the galahs I've seen locally have anywhere near the redness of eye colour you often see in photos, the males seem to be coal black and the females reddish brown). Comparing Australian or Californian weather with Northwest UK, perhaps it's a sunlight thing? Sunlight is something Mancunians generally only see on holiday...

Rosie looks beautiful, as always.

Jayyj said:

Ah, I see what you mean with Alice. The Western has a significantly different crest shape by the look of it, giving the back of their heads an almost Major Mitchell shape, but obviously with the recumbent rather than recursive front part. Alice and Rosie aren't actually that dissimilar, certainly in build. Alice is maybe a touch lighter in the chest, and her eyes a shade darker (none of the galahs I've seen locally have anywhere near the redness of eye colour you often see in photos, the males seem to be coal black and the females reddish brown). Comparing Australian or Californian weather with Northwest UK, perhaps it's a sunlight thing? Sunlight is something Mancunians generally only see on holiday...

Rosie looks beautiful, as always.

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The Westerns are fairly common around where I live, usually in mixed flocks with Little Corellas. They did seem a little paler than I remembered the galahs over east where I moved from. When I was a boy, galahs were commonly kept in cages in backyards (even by "non-birdy" people") and I recall they were often very pale-coloured, it was said at the time that they didn't get the seeds they find in the wild, so didn't develop the deeper pinks. In retrospect, the poor birds were probably all sick from a lifetime on "cocky seed" (sunflower).

Jay, have you ever caught up with fellow Mancunians Elbow? They're one of my favourite bands.

You're welcome to some of our sun, it's a pleasure to see a cloud sometimes, where I live now

Funnily enough, Manchester is full of ex-pat Aussies, no idea what the appeal is but I have a few good friends from there. They're a little surprised as to how much fuss I make over my "little pink pigeon"...

I've not listened to Elbow a huge amount but I've run into Guy Garvey a few times, and he seems a very pleasant chap. Compared to Australia we don't get much in the way of exotic wildlife in Manchester, but sightings of moderately well known indie rock musicians are commonplace!

Jayyj said:

Funnily enough, Manchester is full of ex-pat Aussies, no idea what the appeal is but I have a few good friends from there. They're a little surprised as to how much fuss I make over my "little pink pigeon"...

I've not listened to Elbow a huge amount but I've run into Guy Garvey a few times, and he seems a very pleasant chap. Compared to Australia we don't get much in the way of exotic wildlife in Manchester, but sightings of moderately well known indie rock musicians are commonplace!

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I'm envious, and you're right, he does seem like a nice chap. He certainly has a great voice