Carnaby’s Cockatoo

Carnaby’s Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus latirostris Body Length: 53–58 cm Weight: 520–790 g Incubation: 28 days Number of eggs: 1–2 Carnaby’s Cockatoos travel in large flocks of up to 2,000 and inhabit woodland scrub in the South West region of Western Australia. They are mostly brownish-black with dusky white-tipped feathers. They have white ear covers, a white band towards the tip of the tail and a black bill. Females have yellowish-white ear covers and greyish bills. The Carnaby’s upper bill is broader and shorter than the Baudin’s Cockatoos. Carnaby’s Cockatoos are granivores and eat the seeds of Banksia, Dryandra, Hakea, Eucalyptus, Grevillea and Pinus. This endangered species have a very low rate of reproduction which means the population cannot quickly replace the large number of birds shot by farmers. Habitat destruction is also a major cause as cutting down trees destroys the cockatoos’ nesting sites. Carnaby’s come into competition with introduced bees, galahs and corellas for nesting sites and are also highly sought after as pets on the black market. Many chicks are taken from nests and trees are cut down to get at the eggs and babies inside the nesting hollows. It is illegal to shoot or poach Black Cockatoos and we must make more of an effort in the conservation of this unique Australian Wildlife. Carnaby’s Black Cockatoos are also known as the Short-billed White-tailed Black Cockatoo and Ngoolark, they make a ‘wee-loo’ sound when calling.