Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo

The Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, Zanda funerea, is a majestic bird native to the south-east of Australia. It is a large cockatoo, measuring 55–65 cm in length, with a short crest adorning the top of its head. Its plumage is primarily a brownish black, accented with prominent yellow cheek patches and a yellow tail band. The body feathers are edged with yellow, giving a scalloped appearance.

Identification Tips

Adult males are identified by their black beaks and pinkish-red eye-rings, while females sport bone-coloured beaks and grey eye-rings. In flight, these cockatoos exhibit a deep, slow wingbeat, which is quite distinctive. Their loud, wailing calls are unmistakable and carry over long distances.

Habitat

The Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo thrives in temperate forests and forested areas, including pine plantations and, occasionally, urban settings where food is abundant.

Distribution

This species is found across south and central eastern Queensland to southeastern South Australia. It is also present in Tasmania and the islands of the Bass Strait. Two subspecies are recognized, with potential for a third based on distinct populations.

Behaviour

These cockatoos are diurnal and known for their raucous calls. They are often seen flying high in pairs or small groups, and outside the breeding season, they may form flocks of over a hundred individuals. They are generally wary but can be less so in urban areas.

Song & Calls

Their contact call is a high-pitched wailing "kee-ow," while they also emit a harsh screeching alarm call. When foraging for grubs, they make a soft, chuckling sound.

Breeding

Breeding varies by region, occurring from April to July in Queensland and October to February in Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania. They nest in large hollows of old growth native trees, with the female incubating the eggs and both parents raising the chicks.

Similar Species

The Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo can be distinguished from other dark-plumaged birds by its yellow tail and ear markings, and its unique call. It shares parts of its range with the Red-tailed Black Cockatoo and the Glossy Black Cockatoo, which have red tail banding.

Diet and Feeding

Their diet includes seeds of native and introduced plants, wood-boring grubs, and occasionally nectar. They are particularly fond of larvae from tree-boring beetles and cossid moths.

Conservation Status

The Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. However, habitat fragmentation and loss of large trees suitable for nesting have caused population declines in Victoria and South Australia. Climate change also poses a threat to their mainland range.