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Glossy Black-Cockatoo

(Calyptorhynchus lathami)
Alternative name: "Leach's Black Cockatoo"
Size: 46-50 cm

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

There are three races of Glossy Black-Cockatoos. Nominate race "lathami" is found along the coastal strip from about the NSW/VIC border in the south to the south-eastern corner of QLD. They also live in the hills of the Great Dividing Range behind these coastal areas, into parts of the Murray-Darling Basin. In a roughly triangular area in QLD, with Bundaberg, Moranbah and Roma as its corners, race "erebus" is found. Race "halmaturinus" is found only on Kangaroo Island.

Glossy Black-Cockatoos can be found in various types of forest, ofent open, sometimes also denser. They have a strong preference for the seeds of Casuarina trees and are therefore often found around such trees, especially if they have mature cones.

Sightings

Glossy Black-Cockatoos, race "lathami" are found in various places around Narrabri, NSW, especially in areas with casuarina trees, such as Jack's Creek State Forest, other parts of the Pilliga scrub and also around the Australia Telescope Compact Array radio observatory, 25 km west of town.

Although sighted regularly by us in these areas in the years 2003-2006, in general they are quite rare. They live in small groups. Typical sightings are of two or three individuals, sometimes small groups of up to six birds. In the Pilliga Nature Reserve, south of Narrabri, flocks of up to tens (consisting of subgroups that will disperse again at some point) have been spotted at a dam. Their habitat changed a lot during the large bushfire of December 2006. A group of four birds was spotted by us about 50 km south of Narrabri in March 2009. Seen regularly in various parts of the Pilliga scrub in subsequent years. They are found most easily at dams or waterholes near sunrise and sunset, when 10 or more birds have been observed at the same time.

Also seen by us once in the foothills of the Nandewar Range, 20 km east of Narrabri.

In July 2009 race "erebus" was seen by us in two locations in QLD, namely at Mt. Archer National Park, east of Rockhampton, and on the eastern outskirts of Kroombit Tops National Park.

Twitcher's tip

If you see black cockatoos with red tail markings in a group of only a few, it is likely that you are looking at Glossy Black-Cockatoos. If they come in a big flock, they are likely Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos.

Photos

Race "lathami"

Glossy Black-Cockatoos love casuarina seeds; note the size and strength of the bill, enabling them to crack these hard seeds

Male Glossy Black Cockatoo chewing on a casuarina seed

Female Glossy Black Cockatoo with the same pastime

Frontal view of a female

Female bird preening

One Glossy Black Cockatoo feeding the other - it is not clear why the birds went down onto the ground; it was raining at the time, which makes the rock surface reflect in a bluish-grey tint

Breeding success for a pair of Glossy Black Cockatoos; dad had just flown away, but mum is still drinking together with their offspring - the youngsters are discernible by their yellow head and neck plumage

Glossy Black Cockatoos are very elegant gliders (I)

Glossy Black Cockatoos are very elegant gliders (II)

Race "erebus"

Frontal view of a male Glossy Black Cockatoo feeding on the seeds of a casuarina; this bird was observed at Mount Walsh NP

Lateral view of a male Glossy Black Cockatoo feeding on the seeds of a eucalypt; this bird was seen about 10 km north-east of Kroombit Tops NP

Female Glossy Black-Cockatoo in flight, displaying the speckled, glossy plumage that gives them their name

This pair in flight (female upper-left, male lower-right) was seen about 10 km north-east of Kroombit Tops NP

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal Mobility: Sedentary/dispersive Elementary unit: Pair/small flock

Twitcher's tip

If you observe cockatoos with red tails that come in a large flock and have pronounced crests, you are looking at Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos. If, on the other hand, you encounter a small group of 2-6 birds and their crests are inconspicuous, you are most likely observing a clan of Glossy Black-Cockatoos.

When courting a female, the male Glossy Black-Cockatoo intonates a monotonous song reminiscent (to humans) of a car alarm. Upon the last intonation of the refrain, which increases in volume, the male bows and displays his crest and the red patches on the underside of its tail to the female (see photo). After a few seconds, and possibly after a move to a more advantageous point, the whole routine starts all over.

Male courting a female, displaying his crest and the conspicuous red fields on his tail. Photographed against the bright light of the background sky, the birds appear to be darker than they are in reality

Similar to other cockatoo species, Glossy Black-Cockatoos also show playful behaviour, like the male bird in the photo below.

Male Glossy Black-Cockatoo doing a somersault

Food

Like basically all cockatoos, Glossy Black-Cockatoos are seed-eaters. They have a strong preference for the cones of casuarinas ("She-oaks").

Contrary to other birds eating cones of conifers, Glossy Black Cockatoos do not crack casuarina ("She-oak") cones to extract the seeds, but instead eat the whole lot. Below a close look at such a cone, which is about 10 mm long.

Casuarina seed cone