White-Tailed Black Cockatoo

Calyptorhynchus latirostris Australia

Also known as White-tailed cockatoo.

The White-tailed black cockatoo is a unique and magnificent species. They are large black cockatoos with recumbent crests. They are dimorphic by plumage color. The male is solid black except for a broad white panels across the middle of the lateral tail feathers and white ear patches. The central tail feathers are solid black.

The female’s undersides are faintly barred with white scallops on the covert feathers and a larger white ear patch. In both sexes the tail feathers have white patches which. Immature birds resemble females.

White-tailed black cockatoos are common in the southwestern Australia. They inhabit eucalyptus forests especially along rivers. They are not as nomadic as the red-tailed black cockatoo. They are dependant up large trees, especially for nesting sites and the population is declining due to habitat degradation. They feed primarily on seeds of trees. Very few birds are in captivity, even in zoos.
Length is 22 to 24 inches. Weight is 550-750 grams. Males are generally larger than females and have larger heads and beaks. White-tailed black cockatoos and other cockatoo species can be very long lived (probably around 50 years) but precise life span is unknown.

Breeding age is not known and breeding life span is not known. Hand- reared males may be problematic breeders (as hand fed red-tailed black cockatoos are) and preferably should be parent reared to avoid imprinting.

Personality - White-tailed black cockatoos are gentle by nature. They are relatively quite except for their breeding call. Their rarity outside of Australia makes it unlikely they will be available.

Sexing White-tailed black cockatoos are dimorphic as adults. Immature birds of both sexes resemble females until 1-2 years old.

Breeding – White-tailed black cockatoos are difficult to breed in captivity and are extremely rare or unavailable in the United States.

Conservation Status - Vulnerable, due to habitat degradation and limited range. - White-tailed black cockatoos are listed on Appendix II on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species but only because of the listing of almost all parrot species. Australia does not allow export of their native wildlife. White-tailed black cockatoos are very rare in captivity and rarely seen even in zoos and specialized private collections.