Black Cockatoos

Black is a relatively rare color among cockatoos, with only six species displaying predominantly black plumage. Like most cockatoos, they are social birds that move about in flocks in the wild and often preen each other’s feathers out of affection. Despite their friendliness even towards humans, black cockatoos are uncommon as pets as they require ample space and significant attention due to their size, intelligence, and strong need for social interaction.

Black Cockatoos

List of Cockatoos with Black Plumage

Out of the six black cockatoos, five belong to the subfamily Calyptorhynchinae, which consists of two genera, Calyptorhynchus and Zanda. The sixth, the Palm Cockatoo, belongs to the monotypic genus Probosciger.

All of these cockatoos are native to Australia, though the Palm Cockatoo can also be found in Papua New Guinea.

NameSubspeciesLength (in) Weight (oz)Lifespan (yrs) in the wild*Conservation Status
Calyptorhynchus
Red-tailed Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii)i) South-eastern Red-tailed Black Cockatoo
ii) Great-billed Cockatoo
iii) Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoo
iv) C. b. banksii
v) C. b. samueli
22-2420-3245-50Least Concern
Glossy Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami)i) C. l. lathami
ii) C. l. erebus
iii) C. l. halmaturinus
18-2015-23Exceeds 30Least Concern
Zanda
Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo (Zanda funerea)i) Eastern yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo
ii) Southern yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo
22-2626-3240-60Near Threatened
Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo (Zanda latirostris)21-2318-2825-50Vulnerable
Baudin’s Black Cockatoo (Zanda baudinii)20-2220-2225-50Endangered
Probosciger
Palm Cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus)i) P. a. stenolophus
ii) P. a. goliath
iii) P. a. aterrimus
iv) P. a. macgillivrayi 
22-2432-42Unknown; 40-60 as petsCritically Endangered

*Note: Lifespans generally increase for these birds when kept as pets.

FAQs

1. Are there any black cockatoos that can talk?

While these cockatoos are quite intelligent, they aren’t the best at mimicking human speech.