Black Cockatoo

Karak was the official mascot of the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games, Victoria, Australia.

 

Red-tailed Black Cockatoos are an iconic Australian native parrot.

The Red-tailed Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii), also known as Banksian- or Bank's Black Cockatoo, is a large cockatoo native to Australia. This species was known as Calyptorhynchus magnificus for many decades until the current scientific name was officially conserved in 1994. It is more common in the drier parts of the continent. Five subspecies are recognised, differing most significantly in beak size. Although the more northerly subspecies are widespread, the two southern subspecies, the Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoo and the South-eastern Red-tailed Black Cockatoo are under threat.

Adult Red-tailed Black Cockatoos are sexually dimorphic; males are large black cockatoos, 60 cm (24 inches) in length, with prominent red tail bands. Females are brownish-black with yellow barring and spotting and with yellow-orange tail stripes. The species is usually found in eucalyptus woodlands, or along water courses. In the more northerly parts of the country, these cockatoos are commonly seen in large flocks. They are seed eaters and cavity nesters. As such, they depend on trees with fairly large diameters, generally Eucalyptus. Populations in southeastern Australia are threatened by the reduction in forest cover and by other habitat alterations.

A Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, named Karak, was the official mascot of the 2006 Commonwealth Games, held in Melbourne. Of the black cockatoos, the red-tailed black is the most adaptable to aviculture, though they are much rarer and much more expensive outside Australia.

 

 

Melbourne Zoo, Parkville, Victoria, Australia

Done