Red-tailed Black Cockatoo

Cockatoos are large parrots, known for their long life spans that range from 40 to 70 years. They differ from other parrots in that they have a head crest and no blue or green feathers. Black cockatoos are found only in Australia. 

The red-tailed black-cockatoo is a spectacular bird. Its genus Calyptorhynchus is Greek for ‘hidden (calypto) beak (rhynchos)’.

In courtship, the male fluffs up his cheek feathers until his beak is almost hidden, bows to the female, gurgles, struts sexily, ending in a jump and flash of red tail feathers. 

Red-tailed black-cockatoos occur in the drier parts of Australia, and usually flying in large flocks. They use their strong beaks to open woody seed capsules, and muscular tongues to extract the seed kernels.

They also feast on fruits, nectar, flowers and insects. Most cockatoos are left-footed, grasping food items with their left foot. They nest in cavities, favouring eucalyptus trees.