Glossy Black Cockatoo

Overview

The glossy black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami) is a species of bird found in eastern Australia and classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. It is the smallest member of the subfamily Calyptorhynchinae and is closely related to the red-tailed black cockatoo.

Identification

• Males are predominantly black with a chocolate-brown head and striking red tail patches, while females are duller dark brown with yellow flecks in the tail and collar.
• Adults reach a length of 46–50 cm.
• Females display a barred tail, whereas males have a patched tail.
• The species is sexually dimorphic, with significant differences in plumage between the sexes.

Habitat

Glossy black cockatoos inhabit open forest and woodlands, often associated with casuarina woodland in regions ranging from south-eastern Queensland to Mallacoota in Victoria, with isolated pockets in central Queensland. A distinct population exists on Kangaroo Island in South Australia, restricted to its northern and western parts.

Diet

They usually feed on the seeds of she-oaks (Casuarina spp.), with the Kangaroo Island subspecialising in the most recent season's cones of drooping she-oak (Allocasuarina verticillata) over older cones. The bird holds the cones in its foot and shreds them with its powerful bill before removing the seeds with its tongue.

Did you know?

The Kangaroo Island subspecies recovered from a low of 158 individuals to 446 by 2025/6, largely thanks to researchers installing tin around tree bases to deter possums that preyed on the birds' eggs and nests.