Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo or Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo?

General appearance

The red-tailed black cockatoo is a large and striking bird, primarily black in color with bright red or orange panels in the tail depending on sex. They have a distinctive crest of the same black feathers on their head. Their size varies with location, but generally ranges between 50-65 cm in length.

Male vs female

Males have a characteristic pair of bright red panels on their tail feathers, a black beak, and a dark iris. Females are slightly smaller, beaks are whitish, and they typically sport patterned yellow-orange spots on their chest and wings. Their tail panels are thin orange-yellow stripes instead of solid red.

Juvenile

Juveniles resemble the adult female red-tailed black cockatoo, but are duller in color. Their iris is dark, and they possess fainter yellow-orange patterns. Tail-wise, the young males have dull red panels while the young females display barred orange tail panels. With age, these colors become more pronounced and distinct.

Primary habitat

The red-tailed black cockatoo primarily inhabits Eucalyptus woodlands, Melaleuca swamps, and tropical rainforests in Australia.

Additional range

It occasionally ventures into urban areas becoming a common sight in parks and gardens. They prefer warm climates and are mostly found across northern and eastern Australia.

Natural diet

The red-tailed black cockatoo primarily feeds on native seeds, fruits, nuts, and flowers found in its habitat. They have a particular preference for seeds from eucalyptus, casuarina, and acacia trees. Additionally, they consume insect larvae and other small invertebrates.

Bird feeders

At bird feeders, red-tailed black cockatoos are occasionally seen consuming commercial bird seed mixes that include sunflower seeds, grains, and nuts. While they are less commonly found at feeders, these foods can supplement their natural diet when available.