Baudin's Cockatoo
Calyptorhynchus baudinii
- Baudin's Cockatoo - female
- Photo by Tony Kirkby
- Image copyright of WA Museum.
Download Baudin's Cockatoo factsheet [PDF 507kb]
Other names:
Baudin's Black Cockatoo and Long-billed Black Cockatoo.
Threatened Status:
"Listed Endangered: Scedule 1 - Western Australian Wildlife Conservation Act".
"Endangered: under Federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act".
It is scarce to moderately common (most numerous in deep south-west). Mainly in flocks (up to 300 and occasionally larger aggregations of up to 1200 at roosts). It has declined in the last 50 years, its low rate of reproduction (0.6 chick per year) precluding it from replacing the large numbers shot by orchardists.
Breeding:
Nesting in hollows of Karri, Marri and Wandoo trees. Eggs laid in August - December; clutch 1-2 ( only one young reared ) and only the female incubates and broods the chick.
Life span:
25 - 50 years.
Description:
Length 50-60 cm. Weight 560-770 g.
Upper bill narrower and longer than Carnaby's Cockatoo.
Adult male:
- Baudin's Cockatoo - male
- Photo by Tony Kirby
- Image copyright of WA Museum.
Mostly brownish black, the feathers edged with dusky white giving a scalloped appearance; ear coverts dusky white; white band towards tip of tail, broken in middle; bill black; bare skin around eye pink.
Female:
Like male but differs in having the ear coverts a brighter yellowish white; bill greyish with dark tip and eye skin grey.
Call:
A short "whincher whincher" and "bunyip bunyip" flock call. Breeding call a repeated low "arr" followed by a high-pitched whistle.
Distribution:
Occurs in south-western humid and subhumid zones, north to Gidgegannup, east to Clackline, Wandering, Quindanning, the Perup River, Lake Muir and King River, and west to eastern strip of Swan Coastal Plain including West Midland, Gosnells, Byford, North Dandalup, Yarloop, Wokalup and Bunbury also the Stirling and Porongurup Ranges and along the south coast to Waychinicup National Park. It is endemic to Western Australia.
Habitat and food:
Southern eucalypt forests of mainly Jarrahm Marri and Karri. Feeds on seeds of eucalypts, Banksia, Hakea and fruiting apples and pears. Also nectar, buds and flowers and strips bark from dead trees in search of beetle larvae. Forages at all levels from canopy to ground.
Threats to the species:
Clearing of forest, fires, vehicle strikes, feral bees which take over nesting hollows and in the past large numbers shot by orchardists.
