This detailed illustration features two Major Mitchell's cockatoos as the primary subjects. One bird is perched slightly lower, viewed from behind with its head turned to the right, while the second bird stands higher on the same gnarled, leafless branch, looking off to the right side of the frame. Both birds display their distinctive crests, which are fanned out to reveal striking bands of bright orange and crimson against a pale pink and white plumage.
The setting is an arid, sun-drenched Australian outback landscape. The ground is a rich, earthy red soil, accented by green tufts of spinifex grass and several stalks of blooming Mulla Mulla, identifiable by their soft, conical pink flower heads. The composition is balanced, with the birds anchored on a weathered, grey-brown branch that stretches diagonally across the mid-ground. The background is softly out of focus, rendered in warm, hazy tones of golden-brown and ochre, suggesting a dry, expansive environment bathed in late afternoon light.
The artwork is executed in a realistic, painterly style with fine attention to the texture of the birds' feathers and the rugged nature of the desert foliage. The lighting is soft and natural, emphasizing the vibrant colours of the cockatoos' crests and the delicate pink flowers against the deep, muted earth tones of the landscape. The overall mood is peaceful and evokes the natural beauty of the Australian wild.