Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo – Looks, Diet, Breeding, and Behavior

Published on Aug 21, 2021 by Bilal Qamar

Last Updated on February 3, 2022

Australia is a continent that provides a home to many beautiful species that are very rare globally; the Red-tailed black cockatoo is one of them. In this article, you will find detailed and authentic research about this species covering its looks, diet, breeding, and behavior.

Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo

The red-tailed black cockatoo, also known as bankisan or bank black cockatoo, is a large black cockatoo. They can form a beautiful comb of feathers when pushed or raised, making this cockatoo more beautiful and unique. They are mainly found in drier lands that are covered with large trees or along with watercourses.

Classification of Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo 

The scientific name of this species is Calyptorhynchus banksii. The classification of red-tailed black cockatoo is:

  • Order: Psittaciformes 
  • Family: Cacatuidae 
  • Genus: Calyptorhynchus 

How Does a Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo Look? 

The male and female red-tailed black cockatoo have different looks. Thus, depending upon their appearances, I have explained them in detail below separately.

The male red-tailed black cockatoo

Male red-tailed black cockatoo has a crown on the head made up of entirely black feathers. The beautiful crown of feathers makes this species more spectacular and can be easily identified. The crown is formed when the cockatoo is alarmed or excited.  While on the tail, it has flat, bright red colored marks. Due to these looks of a male cockatoo, it was named red-tailed black cockatoo.

 

The female black cockatoo

Female red-tailed black cockatoo has yellow grading that goes up to red spots on the cheeks and the wings, while yellow-orange bands on the tail and chest region. The females of this species are a little bit dull in the color grading and face beauty. They also have a small crest as compared to the males. The young black cockatoo also looks like a female due to its dull black color. 

Voice of Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo 

Two types of voices are made by this kind of species depending upon the situation in which they are.

The louder sharp metallic krur-rr or kree voice is made by them while they are flying. It carries a long distance, and it is very alarming in panic situations. Their voices are sometimes very loud.

They often make the soft call of repetitive kred-kred-kred-kred while they are interacting with each other. This species is not good at communication. You can also hear soft calls while they are eating.

Size of a Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo 

The measurements of the red-tailed black cockatoo are 60 centimeters longer. They are comparatively longer than other black cockatoo species. The long length of cockatoo usually creates difficulties for them while creating nests for them. 

Weight of a Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo 

The female red-tailed black cockatoo has a lesser weight than males.

The male red-tailed black cockatoo weighs between 670 and 920 grams, while the female red-tailed black cockatoo weighs 615–870 grams.

Where Do Red-Tailed Black  Cockatoos Live? 

Red-tailed black cockatoo is found in forests that have abundant eucalyptus trees. Due to fires in forests in recent years, they are also seen in open grass fields and fields used for farming. They are also seen on dry water channels. 

What Do Red-Tailed Black Cockatoos Eat? 

All species of red-tailed black cockatoo eat seeds. They use their hard beak to open the hard seed capsules and then use their muscular, strong tongue to get the kernel from the seed. While doing this whole process, the seed shell is held by their foot, two are pointing forward, and the other two are pointing backward. They move from one place to another depending on the tree’s seeding season.

In captivity, the dedicated owners feed them with fruits and seeds. Chinese apples are the favorite food of this species. A great variety of seeds are available in the market for these cockatoos. For providing a balanced diet for your pet, you can also add nuts in their food that can enhance the taste and quality. Always try to provide fresh food for them.

Breeding Behavior of Red-Tailed Black Cockatoos 

The breeding behavior of red-tailed black cockatoo is comparatively good. They generally breed from May to September, while southeastern subspecies breed from December to Feb. 

The female species lays 1-2 eggs, but only one is raised. The incubation period lasts for over a month, and for this whole period, females are fed by males. After the incubation period, the female-only sits at night. For three months, the younger one is fed by the parents.

Then nesting takes place in hollows of dried and chewed trees. The nest is made 15 meters above the ground. 

The lifeSpan of Red-Tailed Black  Cockatoos

The lifespan of red-tailed black cockatoos depends upon the attention they get. 

In the wild, they can live up to 20 years.

In captivity, with a dedicated owner, they can live up to 45 – 50 years, making this pet a lifelong commitment for a generation. They need fresh open space and fresh branches, which they love to tear apart. In captivity, this bird needs a lot of attention and well-prepared food from a dedicated owner. They can last for a generation. 

Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo Population

A red-tailed black cockatoo is found all over the continent of Australia. They are found in the dried regions. It has five major subspecies which are known, two of which graptogyne and naso are endangered.

In 1996 according to WWF, the population of this species was around 1000 with a 10% proportion of breeding pairs. Then again, in 2002, the population of this species was around 700. In 2015 the population of this species was increased to 1500 birds count. In recent times the population of this species is only 1000 birds.

Yellow Feathered Red Tail Cockatoo

There is a very rare species of cockatoo in Bunbury that perches on a gumtree with mottled yellow plumage. Apparently, they are very beautiful and their yellow feathers on a black body with red tail makes them visually very unique and they are rarely seen.

Threats to Red-Tailed Black Cockatoos 

Many human activities are threatening the extinction of this species. These are significant threats to red-tailed black cockatoos.

WildFire:

Fire in the forests of Australia has affected the habitat of the red-tailed black cockatoo on a big scale due to the removal of the trees. Due to fewer trees, it forces the species to fly away. The weak birds are killed by fire. Their nests and resources are destroyed. Many birds cannot even escape the areas with dark and dense smoke. 

Fuel fire :

Fuel reduction fire produces harmful smoke that affects the production of fruits and seeds in the forests, and this can cause a lack of availability of food for these species. And the smoke caused by fuel reduction also causes lung and eye problems in birds, including red-tailed black cockatoo.

Deforestation:

Another major threat to this species is deforestation. About 64% of the woodland habitat of this species has been cleared. This species loves to live in dried land covered by trees. The removal of trees affects their population.

Illegal trade:

Illegal birding is done for this species as they are rare and extremely costly. And these birds are sold illegally by thieves. It is tough to monitor this, but local people are encouraged to report such activities.

How Much Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo Cost?

The red-tailed black cockatoo is more expensive than another black cockatoo due to its beauty and extinction.

The male red-tailed black cockatoo cost is 18,000$

The female red-tailed black cockatoo is a bit more costly due to its breeding behavior. Females cost up to 20,000$.

Other Similar Species

Five sub specie of red-tailed black cockatoo are recognized depending on the size and shape of beaks that are listed below

  • C. b. Banksii
  • C. b. Graptogyne
  • C. b. Macrorhynchu
  • C. b. Naso
  • C. b. Samueli

Conclusion:

To understand this species, you must study its behavior, diet, and everything about them. For this purpose, I tried to enlist detailed notes on classification, identification, feed, breeding, and everything that you should know about red-tailed black cockatoo.  

Also Read About: Blue Galah Cockatoo [Blue-Eyed Cockatoo] Looks, Diet, Breeding, and Behavior

Bilal is an aviculturist who loves to write in free time. His personal experience with bird care and breeding enables him to share valuable tips. So far, he has contributed more than 100 blogs to this site. His goal is to promote bird-keeping and save endangered species.

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