Palm Cockatoo

Description

The Subtle Approach

Native to northern Queensland, Australia, and New Guinea, this species is the largest of all cockatoos (measuring up to 25 inches from head to tail) and they also have the largest beak among their kind. A fine, white powder from exfoliated down feathers covers their body, making the black plumage appear dusky gray. The “bright spot” on a palm cockatoo’s face is the featherless patch of red skin under its ebony eyes. When the bird is excited, the spot flushes from dark pink to orange-red to scarlet in color. With their big beak, these birds are able to crack the large, tough nut of the pandanus plant (often called a palm, but it’s not). Pandanus fruit is a palm cockatoo favorite. In fact, the birds’ common name comes from the fact they they are so often seen feeding in those trees (which, again, are not actually palms, but oh, well). They round out their diet with other types of fruits, nuts, and leaf buds