Carnaby's Black-Cockatoo

(Calyptorhynchus latirostris)

Once numerous in WA, the enigmatic and highly mobile Carnaby's Black-Cockatoo (Calyptorhychus latirostris) is now listed as endangered, with populations declining dramatically due to land clearing for urban development in Perth and for agriculture in regional areas.  The last 45 years has seen a 50% decrease in the species' range and abundance.

The life history of this distinctive cockatoo makes it extremely vulnerable to threats resulting from human activities.  Pairs bond for life, and use large hollows in Eucalypt trees to produce just one chick per year.  Hollows may not form in those trees for 120 - 150 years and competition for hollows is increasing from feral bees, corellas and galahs. Clearing of feeding habitat, for example on the Swan Coastal Plain, continues to be a threat.  

Carnaby's cockatoos are believed to breed mostly in the wheatbelt, returning to coastal and near coastal areas from late December to July.  The birds feed on a large variety of plants including Proteaceous species (e.g. banksia, dryandra and grevillea), marri nuts, and a range of introduced species - notably pine cones.

The long-term survival and recovery of Carnaby's cockatoo is inextricably linked to the survival of its habitat - both in breeding areas in the wheatbelt and non-breeding areas such as the Swan Coastal Plain.  However, with increasing public awareness and support, and future conservation planning based on good information, there is still hope that Carnaby's cockatoos will one day again blacken the sky as they fly overhead.

"What great birds they [Carnaby's Cockatoo] are!  They're real larrikins, and often remind me of adolescents - they're big, very noisy, very very messy... but we love them anyway!"
Carnaby's Cockatoo Observer

Information sheets available for download

About Carnaby's Black-Cockatoo (NEW! - 1.2 MB - full colour, 4 page, information brochure)

Native plant species used by Carnaby's Black-Cockatoo (30KB - UPDATED)