Forest Red-Tailed Black-Cockatoo
Calyptorhynchus banksii
Noongar Whadjuk: karak
The Forest Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo is probably the most photographed bird in Jirdarup. Photo by Veronica McPhail
In addition to collecting photographs, many visitors vie to be first to find a treasured tail feather.
The male Forest Red-Tailed Black-Cockatoo is an unmistakeable large black cockatoo with vivid red panels in its tail feathers. Females are less black with spotted plumage and yellow and red panels on the tail feathers. These cockatoos are recent arrivals in Jirdarup, first recorded in 2007. Juveniles look similar to adult females.
They arrived from their usual habitat of large forest trees in the Darling Range. It is thought they may have been attracted to urban Perth in search of food, particularly Cape Lilac seeds. Jirdarup provides a good roosting site where water is available as well as good foraging in surrounding suburbs.
These Cockatoos can be destructive to eucalypts where they constantly prune new growth and branches in search of the seeds of the gumnuts.
There are many Dreamtime stories that include this magnificent bird. Read how it got its red tail.
The voice is raucous compared to other black cockatoos. Listen to it here.
(Sound with permission from graemechapman.com.au )
