Red-tailed Black Cockatoo Identification Guide
A large, glossy Australian cockatoo whose males show a broad band of red across the tail, while females sport yellow-spotted plumage instead.
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Key Field Marks
- Large cockatoo, 55-65 cm long, with a prominent crest and long broad tail.
- Male: entirely glossy black plumage with a wide, bright red band across the tail feathers, visible in flight and when the tail is fanned.
- Female: black-brown overall, finely spotted with yellow or orange on the head and body, with the tail showing barred yellow-orange (not solid red) panels.
- Flight is slow, deep, and heavy, often in pairs or small family groups with loud calls.
- Several regional subspecies vary somewhat in size and bill shape across Australia.
Separating It From Similar Species
- Glossy Black-Cockatoo: smaller, with a stubbier bill, more restricted duller red tail panels in males, and a quieter, less far-carrying call.
- Carnaby's and Baudin's Black-Cockatoos (southwestern Australia): show white, not red, tail panels, immediately separating them.
- The broad, unbroken red tail band of the male and yellow-spotted female plumage are the clearest identification points.
Habitat, Range & Season
- Found across much of mainland Australia, from eucalypt woodlands and riverine forests to arid inland areas, depending on subspecies.
- Feeds on seeds of eucalypts, casuarinas, hakeas, and other native trees, often heard cracking seed pods while feeding.
- Generally resident, though some populations are locally nomadic, following seasonal food availability.
- Often located by its loud calls before being seen, especially in flight over woodland canopy.
Voice
- A loud, rolling, grating "kree" or wailing screech, frequently given in flight and audible from a considerable distance.
Frequently asked questions
How do you tell a male from a female Red-tailed Black Cockatoo?
Males are solid glossy black with a broad red tail band, while females are duller black-brown with yellow spotting on the body and barred yellow-orange (not solid red) tail panels.
What is the difference between Red-tailed and Glossy Black-Cockatoos?
Red-tailed Black Cockatoos are larger with a heavier bill and a broader, brighter red tail band, while Glossy Black-Cockatoos are smaller with duller, more restricted red tail patches.
What does a Red-tailed Black Cockatoo eat?
It mainly eats seeds from eucalypts, casuarinas, hakeas, and other native trees, often audibly cracking open woody seed pods while feeding.
Where in Australia can I find Red-tailed Black Cockatoos?
They occur widely across mainland Australia in eucalypt woodlands, riverine forests, and some arid zones, with several regional subspecies.