A large white parrot with a yellow crest. It can be raised like a fan. A feathered exclamation mark sits on top of its head. The sulphur-crested cockatoo is impossible to ignore. It is loud. It is large. It is intelligent. It is also not native. It was brought to New Zealand as a cage bird. Some escaped. Some were released. Now small flocks live wild in the North Island. The establishment was accidental. The presence is notable. The plumage is entirely white. The crest and the underwings are bright yellow. The bill is black and powerful. It is strong enough to crack hard nuts. The legs are grey. The bird is striking against the green forest canopy. The contrast is sharp. The visibility is high. It does not blend in. It stands out. The appearance is bold. Feeding involves seeds nuts fruit berries and insects. It uses its bill to crack hard shells. A cockatoo feeding is a destructive force in the forest. It strips bark from trees. It tears open cones. The damage is visible. The impact is physical. The tree bears the marks. The bird moves on. The hunger is satisfied. The destruction is collateral. The call is a loud raucous 'kraa-aaarkk'. It is often repeated. A flock of cockatoos calling from a treetop sounds like a riot. The noise is pervasive. It carries distance. It demands attention. The auditory landscape is defined by this voice. It is unmistakable. It is persistent. It signals presence. In New Zealand these birds are found in small localised populations. The most famous flock lives in the Waitakere Ranges west of Auckland. Others are found in Hawke's Bay and Wellington. The distribution is patchy. The numbers are low. The locations are specific. The bird is not widespread. It is contained. This species is native to Australia and New Guinea. In Australia it is considered a pest by farmers. The reputation travels. The behaviour is consistent. The impact is agricultural. The conflict is established. Breeding takes place in tree hollows. The nest is a cavity lined with wood dust. Two or three white eggs are laid. Both parents share incubation duties. The chicks fledge at about ten weeks. The development is steady. The departure is timed. The cycle repeats. The hollow provides protection. The location is secure. The sulphur-crested cockatoo is long-lived. Some live to be eighty years old. The lifespan is exceptional. The endurance is high. The bird persists. It outlasts many others. The longevity is notable. In New Zealand this bird is a curiosity. It is not a threat. It is just there. The status is benign. The impact is minimal. The population is stable. The adaptation is partial. It occupies the niche. It fills the gap. It carries on. The presence is accepted. The integration is superficial. The identity remains exotic. It keeps going.