Red-tailed Black Cockatoo
Calyptorhynchus banksii
The Red-tailed Black Cockatoo is a large, iconic parrot native to Australia, famous for its magnificent black plumage and the bright red panels on the tails of males. Females are speckled with yellow spots on the head and breast, and have orange-yellow barred tails. They are highly vocal and social, often seen in large, noisy flocks flying slowly over eucalyptus woodlands, feeding on seeds, nuts, and insect larvae.
Red-tailed Black Cockatoo Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions About the Red-tailed Black Cockatoo
The Red-tailed Black Cockatoo is native to Australia, with populations found across the north and west of the continent, and small isolated populations in the south.
Males are completely black with bright red tail panels. Females are black with yellow spots on the head and wings, and have yellow-orange barred tail feathers.
They feed mainly on seeds, particularly eucalyptus and casuarina seeds, but will also eat nuts, fruits, and wood-boring insect larvae.
The Red-tailed Black Cockatoo is usually pairs, family groups, or large flocks.
The Red-tailed Black Cockatoo is typically diurnal.
The Red-tailed Black Cockatoo is nomadic.
The main threats facing the Red-tailed Black Cockatoo include Land clearing, Loss of nesting hollows, and Illegal trade.
The Red-tailed Black Cockatoo population trend is currently stable.
Well-known places to look for the Red-tailed Black Cockatoo include Kakadu National Park (Australia), Atherton Tablelands (Australia), Kimberley Region (Australia), and Darling Scarp (Western Australia).
Natural predators of the Red-tailed Black Cockatoo include Birds of prey and Cats.
The Red-tailed Black Cockatoo is part of the Cacatuidae family and a Psittaciformes order.
The Red-tailed Black Cockatoo weighs about 0.72 kg, reaches about 60 cm in length, and has a wingspan of about 110 cm.
