Red Tail Cockatoo

Description

The species name Calyptorhynchus derives from the Greek words calypto meaning ‘cover’ and rhynchos meaning ‘snout’ which roughly translate to mean ‘covered beak’. This refers to the fact the cockatoo can fluff up the feathers around its beak until it is nearly hidden. The genus name banksii honours Joseph Banks, a botanist with Captain Cook. Thus, the scientific name means ‘Banks’ hidden beak’.

Within the larger grouping of birds of the order Psittaciformes, which includes all the parrots, cockatoos form a distinct family. Two noticeable features that differentiate them from other parrots are the crest on top of the head and the lack of any blue or green colouring in their feathers.

WHAT DO THEY LOOK LIKE?

Red-tailed black cockatoos are easily recognisable.

The male is jet black, with a broad band of bright red in his tail and a dark grey beak.

The female is duller black, with yellow speckles on the head and breast, and yellow patches in her tail. Her beak is whitish in colour.

Immature birds resemble the female.

This bird is also huge – one of our largest parrots. An adult is over 60cm long (24 in) from head to tail!