The adult hen lacks the red of the cock on the face and crest, except that now my hen is over ten years old, she is showing a faint red tinge to the very tips of the feathers of her crest. She shows a lot of red tinging to the edges of the feathers to the chest and abdomen-under tail coverts barred as per cock bird. Mantle feathers edged in colour similar to cock birds, and tail is grey. Immatures show a fair amount of red tinging to feathers underneath. Back is a basic solid grey colour, tail barred with light yellow through the grey.
Young cocks show red on crests.
This is very evident with young I have observed feeding with their parents. This also makes for easy sexing in the nest. The crest of both sexes is unique to the Australian Cockatoo in that they curve forward. Feet are fleshy and grey in coloration. These birds use their feet extensively to hold their food.