Red-tailed black cockatoo
Calyptorhynchus banksii
Red-tailed black cockatoos are common in parts of Australia but, in some parts of southern Australia, they are considered endangered. The average red-tailed black cockatoo is up to 63 centimetres long and can weigh up to 870 grams.
Old gum trees that previously provided nesting hollows for the cockatoos are disappearing and are often used as firewood, resulting in a loss of habitat for the birds. The stringy tree bark which provides the cockatoos’ main food source is also disappearing.
IUCN red list status
The IUCN status of the red-tailed black cockatoo is least concern.
For more information on classifications visit www.iucnredlist.org.
Animal class
Bird
Conservation status
The IUCN does not consider the red-tailed black cockatoo to be currently endangered. They are listed under Appendix II of CITES.
Habitat
Forest
Population
There are no estimates for the global population of these cockatoos, but there is evidence to show that their numbers have decreased. In south-east Australia, there are now less than 1,000 birds.
Diet
Herbivore/Insectivore. Red-tailed black cockatoos eat mostly seeds but also eat nuts, fruits, flowers, bulbs and insects.