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Project Noah Nature School
Calyptorhynchus funereus
Large Australian cockatoo, black feathers with large yellow behind each eye on male and female, red or pink eye ring in males, grey in females, yellow/cream bands across tail feathers more often seen in flight or as birds land or prepare for take off in trees. Black beak in males, blue/grey in females. Feeds on nuts or seeds extracted from pine cones or smaller cones of casuarina species of trees, also some banksia and Eucalypt seeds, insect larvae such as large grubs are also a food source as the birds tap and listen to movement within tree branches and trunks where grubs exist, the strong beaks can tear open the wood to extract the grub.
Found throughout south east Australia. There are several sub species. This one found in northern NSW forest country in foothills of the New England Tablelands alighting on Hoop Pine tree.
More information to be attached soon.
Spotted on Oct 9, 2012
Submitted on May 16, 2014
4 Comments
Glad to show you some of Australia's wonders and bring back good memories for you SukanyaDatta. You would be in awe of a flock of these birds in full chorus, flight and acrobatic display. As human development continues, many species of wildlife diminish - you should try to see as much as you can when the opportunity arises.
Well Australia never ceases to amaze...I can only imagine what a flock of these birds will look like...I remember seeing my first Black swan in a zoo and being told it was from Australia...till then, I had only seen the white ones...the sense of amazement came flooding back. Thank you,kdpicturemaker.
They are flying in larger flocks at present here, possibly starting to nest also, they fly low overhead chattering and almost laughing amongst themselves, screeching loudly and performing somersaults mid air.
Never, never never seen black cockatoo only White ones...such a darling.