other names
Banksian Cockatoo or Red-Tailed Cockatoo

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DESCRIPTION

Adults: Length 500 to 610MM, including long, rounded tail.

Males: Body plumage is black. Broad band of bright red near end of tail, except for two central tail feathers which are black. Cere is naked. Eye is dark brown, naked skin around eye is grey. Bill is dark grey. Feet and toes are a dusky grey.

Females: General plumage is brown black with many yellow speckles on head, neck and shoulders. Feathers on underparts barred with yellow and yellow-orange. Undertail coverts barred with orange-red. Band in tail light yellow merging to orange towards edge of tail and barred with black. Bill is bone-coloured.

Immatures: Resemble adult females. As immature males age the bills darken and the yellow speckles are lost.

Voice: Loud, harsh grating, single note "kree" or "krurr"

There are four races of the Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo; one is large and large-billed that is widespread and abundant across northern Australia from the Kimberleys to north-eastern New South Wales; another smaller but still large-billed that can be found in the jarrah forests of south-western Western Australia; a third small and small-billed with dully marked females in the wheat belt of Western Australia and gum lined river systems of inland Australia east to the Darling; and a fourth small-billed small bird with brilliantly marked females, isolated and rare in the stringybark forests of south-eastern area of South Australia. The Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo is the most widely distributed of the Black Cockatoos. It is considered a feature in the Top End as it can be seen in flocks of up to 200 birds. When flying they have slow, buoyant wing beats and call to each other in their usual yelping cry. In the forested parts of the range the cockatoo can be found in pairs, family groups or small parties made up of several families. It feeds high in the trees, coming to ground only to drink. In the wheat belt of WA flocks commonly come to the ground to feed. Like many inland birds, the Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo is nomadic and appear in some areas seasonally. The Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo is a seed eater, and the four races are distinguished as much by their food as by their size and plumage. South-western cockatoos feed mainly on Marri seeds; the Western Australian wheat belt birds eat mainly protea and casuarina seed; South Australian and Victorian birds feed on Stringybark seeds; and northern Australian Red-Tailed Black Cockatoos eat seeds of a wide variety of trees, shurbs, grasses and even mangroves. Breeding in the Northern Territory is from March to July; May to September in Queensland; March to April and July to October in Western Australia. The cockatoos will nest in any tree hollow of suitable size, lining it with wood chips that is chewed off from the inside of the hollow. Usually only one egg is laid, sometimes two. Incubation is by the female and is for four weeks, the first two to three weeks is continuous and the male feeds the female during this time. Young are fed in the mornings and evenings by both parents. Young fledge in ten to twelve weeks of age.