Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo

red-tailed black cockatoo

The Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii) is a beautiful creature, found on the mainland of Australia.

You’ll often spot them in a flock, returning in the evening from their feeding during the day to roost in large trees near streams and rivers.

One of the neatest things about these cockatoos is the difference between the males and females.

The males live up to their name, and have bright red feathers streaking through their tail.

The females, on the other hand, look almost like a different species! They still have black feathers, but the females have yellow-ish spots and flecks all throughout. Underneath, they have a yellow-orange pattern of feathers. Both the male and female are equally as vibrant and beautiful in their own way!

We have two Red-Tailed Black Cockatoos here at Cairns ZOOM & Wildlife Dome – Holly (male) and Willow (female).

You’ll see them (or hear them!) to your right when you come up the stairs into the Dome.

They’re very friendly, and love posing for photographs! You can learn more about them on one of our Bird Feeding Tours, so don’t miss out if you want to learn more about these beautiful creatures.