Red-tailed black-cockatoo

Calyptorhynchus banksii

Photo by Peter Strauss (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
red-tailed black-cockatoo (en);cacatua-negra-de-cauda-vermelha (pt); cacatoès banksien (fr); cacatúa colirroja (es); Banks-rabenkakadu (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Psittaciformes
Family Cacatuidae

Range:
This species is endemic to Australia. They are found in northern Australia from northern Western Australia to northern New South Wales, in south-western Victoria and south-eastern South Australia, and in south-western Western Australia.

Size:
These birds are 50-65 cm long and weigh 570-920 g.

Habitat:
The red-tailed balck-cockatoo is found in Eucalyptus woodlands, moist subtropical forests, grasslands and scrublands with scattered trees and arable land.

Diet:
They forage both in the tree canopy and on the ground, mainly feeding on seeds, but also taking fruits, nuts, flowers, bulbs and insects.

Breeding:
Red-tailed black-cockatoos breed in March-October. They are monogamous and mate for life, and if one of the birds disappears, the other may not mate again. The nest in a tree hollow, 8-15 m above the ground, which is lined with chewed and decayed wood. There the female lays 1-2 white eggs, which she incubates alone for 28-30 days. Only 1 chick will be raised, being fed by both parents and fledging 11-14 weeks after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and the global population is estimated to be above 100.000 individuals. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction, but it is not threatened at present.

Palm cockatoo

Probosciger aterrimus

Photo by Doug Janson (Wikipedia)

Common name:
palm cockatoo (en); cacatua-das-palmeiras (pt); cacatoès noir (fr); cacatúa enlutada (es); palmkakadu (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Psittaciformes
Family Cacatuidae

Range:
This species is found in New Guinea, where it is widespread, also occurring in the Aru Islands and the West Papuan Islands. It is also found in northern Australia where it is confined to the northern Cape York Peninsula, from Pormpuraaw on the west coast to Princess Charlotte Bay on the east.

Size:
These birds are 49-68 cm long and weigh 0,5-1,1 kg.

Habitat:
The palm cockatoo is found in tropical rainforests and savannas, including gallery forests, forests edges, monsoon woodlands, eucalypt and paperbark woodlands, partially cleared areas and dense savannas. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.350 m.

Diet:
They forage mostly on the forest canopy, but also on the forest floor, feeding on seeds, buds and fruits, and sometimes also insects and their larvae.

Breeding:
Palm cockatoos breed in July-May. They are monogamous and nest in large tree hollows, usually 5-10 m above the ground, choosing large trees such as palms. There the female lays a single white egg, which is incubated by both parents for 30-35 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 65-80 days after hatching. The chicks only achieve independence 4-5 months after fledging and only reach sexual maturity at 7-8 years of age.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range. The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is considered relatively common and appears to have a large overall population. The palm cockatoo is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction and unsustainable levels of exploitation, but it is not threatened at present.

Galah

Eolophus roseicapilla

(Photo from Wikipedia)

Common name:
galah (en); cacatua-rosada (pt); cacatoès rosalbin (fr); cacatúa rosa (es); rosakakadu (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Psittaciformes
Family Cacatuidae


Range:
This species is endemic to Australia, being found throughout the country, including Tasmania.


Size:
Galahs are 35-36 cm long and weigh 270-350 g.


Habitat:
These birds generally avoid densely wooded areas, being found in a wide range of open habitats including wooded savannas, grasslands, scrublands, pastures, plantations and farmland. They are also common inside urban areas.


Diet:
They mostly feed on the seeds of grasses and agricultural crops, but will also eat insect larvae, fruits, berries, nuts, grasses, roots, green shoots, leaf buds, flowers and Eucalyptus seeds.


Breeding:
Galahs can breed all year round, with the breeding period varying between different parts of Australia. They nest in tree hollows or in cavities in cliffs. The female lays 2-6 white eggs which are incubated by both parents for 22-24 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 5-7 weeks after hatching, but only become fully independent 2-3 weeks later.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least concern)
This species has an extremely large breeding range and is described as common. The population is suspected to be increasing as ongoing habitat degradation is creating new areas of suitable habitat.

Yellow-crested cockatoo

Cacatua sulphurea

Photo by James Eaton (Oriental Bird Images)

Common name:

yellow-crested cockatoo (en); cacatua-pequena-de-crista-amarela (pt); cacatoès soufré (fr); cacatúa sulfúrea (es); gelbwangenkakadu (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Psittaciformes

Family Cacatuidae

Range:

The yellow-crested cockatoo is only found in East Timor and the Indonesian islands of Bali, Timor, Sulawesi and the Lesser Sundas. There is an introduced population in Hong Kong

Size:

These birds are 33 cm long. They have a wingspan of 25-28 cm and weigh 300-370 g.

Habitat:

It inhabits woodland and cultivated areas from sea-level up to about 1200 m.

Diet:

Their diet consists mainly of seeds, berries, fruits, nuts and flowers. They have been observed raiding crops of maize and rice, and may also take green plant material.

Breeding:

Yellow-crested cockatoos pair for life and may live up to 40 years. They nests in tree cavities, at heights of 2-20 m. They lay 2 white eggs which are incubated by both parents for 27-28 days. The chicks leave the nest 75 days after hatching.

Conservation:

IUCN status - CR (Critically Endangered)

The current population is estimated at as few as 2.500 individuals and is though to be declining. The main threats affecting this species are illegal trapping for commerce and logging. Just between 1980 and 1992, over 100.000 of these birds were exported from Indonesia, before this trade became illegal.