Carnaby's Black Cockatoo

The Carnaby's black cockatoo, also known as the short-billed black cockatoo, is a majestic bird endemic to the southwest of Australia. It is a large species, with a length ranging from 53 to 58 cm and a wingspan of approximately 110 cm. The plumage is predominantly greyish black, with a short crest atop its head. Notable features include white cheek patches and a white tail band, with body feathers edged in white, creating a scalloped appearance.

Identification Tips

Adult males can be identified by their dark grey beak and pink eye-rings, while adult females sport a bone-coloured beak and grey eye-rings, with ear patches paler than those of the males. Juveniles have a bone-coloured beak and grey eye-rings, with less white in their tail feathers.

Habitat

Carnaby's black cockatoo thrives in Eucalyptus woodlands, particularly those dominated by wandoo and salmon gum. It is also found in pine plantations and sandplains or kwongan heath with abundant Hakea, Banksia, and Grevillea shrubs.

Distribution

This cockatoo is found across a broad area of southwest Australia, mostly within the Wheatbelt region. Its range extends from Cape Arid to the east, Lake Cronin, Hatters Hill, and Lake Moore inland, and up to Kalbarri in the north.

Behaviour

Outside of breeding season, Carnaby's black cockatoo forms flocks and may migrate in drier habitats. It flies with deep, slow wingbeats, often high above the trees. On the ground, however, it moves rather awkwardly. The species is known for its longevity, with individuals living up to 35 years or more.

Song & Calls

The cockatoo's vocal repertoire includes a wailing "wy-lah" call, soft chuck calls when alone, and a harsh screeching alarm call. Males have specific calls directed at females, sometimes as a prelude to mating.

Breeding

Carnaby's black cockatoos mate for life and begin breeding from four years of age. They nest in large hollows in tall trees, with the female laying a clutch of one or two eggs. Incubation lasts 28 to 29 days, and the young fledge ten to eleven weeks after hatching.

Similar Species

The closely related Baudin's black cockatoo is similar in appearance but can be distinguished by its longer and narrower beak.

Diet and Feeding

The diet consists mainly of seeds from proteaceous plants such as Banksia, Hakea, and Grevillea, and to a lesser extent, seeds from myrtaceous plants like Eucalyptus and Corymbia. They also feed on seeds from introduced species such as pine.

Conservation Status

Carnaby's black cockatoo is listed as an endangered species by both the Federal and Western Australian governments, as well as by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Habitat loss, competition for nesting sites, and poaching are significant threats to its survival.