Glossy Black Cockatoos aka Glossy Cockatoos

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The Glossy Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami) is the smallest member of the subfamily Calyptorhynchinae found in Australia. The species is uncommon although widespread throughout suitable forest and woodland habitats in Australia, from the central Queensland coast to East Gippsland in Victoria, and inland to the southern tablelands and central western plains of NSW, with a small population in the Riverina. An isolated population exists on Kangaroo Island, South Australia.

This species inhabits open forest and woodlands of the coast and the Great Dividing Range up to 1000 m in which stands of she-oak species occur. In the Riverina area, they inhabit open woodlands dominated by Belah (Casuarina cristata).

They feed almost exclusively on the seeds of several species of she-oak (Casuarina and Allocasuarina species), shredding the cones with the massive bill. They dependent on large hollow-bearing eucalypts for nest sites. One or two eggs are laid between March and August.

The Australian Government has listed the South Australian race, (including Kangaroo Island), halmaturinus, as being endangered.

Description:

Glossy Black Cockatoos are predominantly black/dark brown with striking caudal red patches. Female birds are duller in color, with flecks of yellow in the tail and collar. An adult will grow to be about 46-50cm in length. The birds are often found in open forest and woodlands, and usually feed on seeds of the Casarina.

Training and Behavioral Guidance:

As this species is rare and at risk of extinction, every effort should be made to place any eligible captive glossy black cockatoos into a well-managed breeding program to ensure their survival. If individuals of this species are not good prospects for breeding for whatever reason and you are considering it as a pet, the following should be of interest.

Cockatoos certainly demand a lot of attention, but are appreciated for their exceptionally loving, devoted personality that is second to none. Cockatoos require an extremely dedicated owner who is willing to provide significant and meaningful attention to these intelligent parrots. They require consistent training from a young age to ensure potential cockatoo owners enjoy a bird free of destructive and annoying habits. Behavioral challenges that cockatoos present include:

• Excessive Chewing: Any parrot will chew. In nature, they use their beak to "customize" their favorite tree, to enlarge the size of their nest in a tree hollow. Doing this keeps their beaks in good condition. The problem is excessive and undesirable chewing. Undisciplined cockatoos will chew on electric wiring potentially causing house fires. The owner needs to provide plenty of "healthy" chewing opportunities (bird toys, natural wood branches, etc.) and training is necessary to teach a cockatoo what is "off-limits."



• Biting: Cockatoos, as most parrots, are likely to discover their beaks as a method of "disciplining us" once they are out of the "baby stage." It really is important to learn to understand them and to guide their behavior before an undesirable behavior has been established. If this behavior is unchecked, the cockatoo is likely to be dominating the entire family, chasing and attacking their least favorite humans (usually the ones they deem to be a competitor for their human mate's affection). Training is vital to stop this destructive behavior.



• Screaming: Not everybody can tolerate the natural loud call of a cockatoo, and even though it can't (or should not) be entirely eliminated, there are ways to discourage screaming / screeching in your pet cockatoo.
  

Training and behavioral guidance will help your pet be the kind of companion you want it to be ...

• AvianWeb Resources: I put together web resources for you to help you understand your pet bird and properly direct him. Please visit this website for valuable tips on parrot behavior and training. If you found a way to resolve a "parrot behavioral issue" please share it with others.


• If you are, as I am, a visual learner and prefer step-by-step instructions to train your pet, I recommend:
  
  • the Parrot Training Course to teach your parrot to:
    • Stop Biting
    • Perform Tricks &
    • Tame ANY SIZE bird you could possibly own
  • and/or try the "Teach Your Parrot to Talk" Training Course.

If you are considering one of these magnificent parrots as pets, please visit the following websites for information:

• Cockatoo General Information



• Procuring your Parrot
  • Bird Breeders


• The 3 Key Elements to Keep Your Pet Bird Happy & Healthy



• Housing Your Bird



• Bird Nutrition



• Parrot Products

Taxonomy:

Genus: English: Black Cockatoos ... Dutch: Raafkakatoes ... German: Rabenkakadus ... French: Cacatoès noir

Species: Scientific: Calyptorhynchus lathami aka Psittacus lathami ... English: Glossy Black Cockatoos ... Dutch: Bruine Raafkakatoe, Lathams Zwarte Kakatoe ... German: Braunkopfkakadu ... French: Cacatoès de Latham

CITES II - Endangered Species

Related Web Resources: Lexicon of Parrots

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