Threatened Status:
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 because of destruction of forests.

There are three forms of Red-tailed Black Cockatoo in Western Australia. Only the Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoo is threatened.

Listen to the Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoos

Description:
Length 53-55 cm. Weight 600-610 g.

Adult male:
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 horn.

Juvenile and immature:
Similar to female except barring on underparts duller.

Voice:
Loud harsh cries 'Karee' or 'Krar-roak' also 'chet' sounds and harsh nasal wheezing.

Life span:
25 - 50 years.

Habitat and diet:
Eucalypt forests. Feeds on seeding marri, jarrah, blackbutt, karri, sheoak and snottygobble.

Threats to the species:
Destruction of forests, fires in spring breeding season, feral bees, expansion of Australian Shelduck and Australian Wood Duck which takes over nesting hollows.

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, North Bannister (formerly to Wandering), Mt Saddleback (formerly to Kojonup), Rocky Gully and the upper King River. It is endemic to Western Australia.

Breeding:
Nesting in hollows of marri, jarrah and karri trees. Eggs laid on wood chips at the bottom of the hollow in October-November; clutch 1 (rarely 2). Incubation period 29-31 days and only the female incubates and broods. Hatchlings covered in sparse yellow down.

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. 275 -276.