Carnaby's Cockatoo
Calyptorhynchus latirostris
Other names:
White-tailed Black Cockatoo and Short-billed Black Cockatoo.
Threatened Status:
"Declared Threatened Fauna: Schedule 1 - Fauna that is rare or is likely to become extinct".
It uncommon to common in wetter parts of range, scarce and patchily distributed in driest parts of range. Usually in pairs or small flocks, occasionally large flocks up to 2,000 in non breeding season especially at pine plantations.
Description:
Length 53-58 cm. Weight 520-790 grams.
Adult male:
Mostly brownish black, the feathers tipped 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 yellowish white; bill greyish bone or bone with a black tip and eye skin grey. Upper bill broader and shorter than Baudin's Cockatoo.
Breeding:
Mainly in wheatbelt, in hollows of smooth-barked eucalypts. Eggs laid on wood dust or chips at bottom of hollow from early July to mid-October.
Clutch 1-2 (only one young reared).
Life span:
25 - 50 years.
Distribution:
Occurs in south-west north to lower Murchison and east to Nabawa, Wilroy, Waddi Forest, Manmanning, Durokoppin, Lake Cronin and just east of Condingup. Endemic to Western Australia.
Habitat and diet:
Woodlands and scrubs of semiarid interior of Western Australia, in non-breeding season wandering in flocks to coastal areas, especially pine plantations. Food includes seeds of Banksia, Dryandra, Hakea, Eucalyptus, Grevillea and Pinus; also fruiting almonds.
Threats to the species:
Declined in wheatbelt due to large scale clearing of habitat.
References:
Johnstone R.E. and Storr.G.M. 1998 Handbook of Western Australian Birds. Volume 1 - Non-passerines (Emu to Dollarbird). Western Australian Museum pp. 276 -278.
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Tail Painting Trial
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