Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoo
Calyptorhynchus banksii naso
- Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoo - chick
- Photo by Ron Johnston
- Image copyright of WA Museum.
Download Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoo factsheet [PDF 560kb]
Other Names:
Red-tailed Black Cockatoo.
The south-western population naso (referring to its large bill) was named by John Gould in 1837. Known to the Noongar people as ‘Karrak’.
Threatened Status:
“Listed Vulnerable: Schedule 1 – Western Australian Wildlife Conservation Act”.
“Vulnerable: under Federal Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act”.
It was formerly common, but is now rare to uncommon and patchily distributed over a range which has become markedly reduced. Usually in pairs or small flocks, seldom large flocks (up to 200). It has declined due to destruction of forests and woodlands, also competition for nest hollows with native and exotic species and the impact of fire. There are three subspecies of Red-tailed Black Cockatoo in Western Australia. Only the south-western population naso is listed as Vulnerable.
Description:
Length 53-55 cm. Weight 600-610 g.
Adult male:
- A pair of Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoos
- Photo by Tony Kirkby
- Image copyright of WA Museum.
Glossy black except for bright orange-red band towards tip of tail, bill dark grey or blackish.
Female:
Glossy black, the head and wing coverts spotted with pale yellow; breast and belly barred with orange-yellow; tail narrowly banded with orange-yellow (more orange) on undertail coverts; bill pale greyish white.
Juvenile and immature:
Similar to female except for less pale yellow spots on head, cheeks and wings, dull pale yellow bars on breast and belly, outer tail feathers brightly barred with red or orange red (little or no yellow) and bill dark grey or blackish.
Voice:
Loud harsh cries “Karee”, “Karrak” or “Krar-raak” also “chet” sounds and harsh nasal wheezing. Male breeding call is a repeated mechanical “waa-waa”.
Life span:
25 - 50 years.
Habitat and food:
Eucalypt forests. Feeds on seeding Marri, Jarrah, Blackbutt, Karri, Sheoak and Snottygobble, also some ornamental eucalypts and introduced Cape Lilac.
Threats to the species:
Destruction of forests, fires in spring breeding season, feral European honey bees, expansion of Australian Shelduck and Australian Wood Duck which takes over nesting hollows, also vehicle strikes.
Distribution:
This subspecies occurs in the humid and subhumid south-west; mainly in hilly interior, north to Gingin (formerly to Dandaragan) and east to Mt Helena (formerly to Toodyay), Christmas Tree Well near Brookton, North Bannister (formerly to Wandering), Mt Saddleback, Kojonup, Rocky Gully, upper King River and east to the Green range. It is endemic to Western Australia.
Breeding:
Nesting in hollows of Marri, Jarrah, Wandoo, Karri and Bullich trees. Eggs laid on wood chips at the bottom of the hollow in March-December; clutch 1 (rarely 2). Incubation period 29-31 days and only the female incubates and broods the chick. Hatchlings covered in sparse yellow down.
