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.
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.
Name | Subspecies | Length (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 | 22-24 | 20-32 | 45-50 | Least Concern | |
Glossy Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami) | i) C. l. lathami ii) C. l. erebus iii) C. l. halmaturinus | 18-20 | 15-23 | Exceeds 30 | Least Concern | |
Zanda | ||||||
Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo (Zanda funerea) | i) Eastern yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo ii) Southern yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo | 22-26 | 26-32 | 40-60 | Near Threatened | |
Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo (Zanda latirostris) | – | 21-23 | 18-28 | 25-50 | Vulnerable | |
Baudin’s Black Cockatoo (Zanda baudinii) | – | 20-22 | 20-22 | 25-50 | Endangered | |
Probosciger | ||||||
Palm Cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus) | i) P. a. stenolophus ii) P. a. goliath iii) P. a. aterrimus iv) P. a. macgillivrayi | 22-24 | 32-42 | Unknown; 40-60 as pets | Critically Endangered |
*Note: Lifespans generally increase for these birds when kept as pets.
FAQs
While these cockatoos are quite intelligent, they aren’t the best at mimicking human speech.