Unlike other cockatoos, which forage in large flocks, “palms” feed singly, in pairs, or in groups of up to 7 in number. The lower beak meets the upper only at the tip, leaving the mouth always slightly open. Extraordinarily powerful, this impressive structure assists the bird in securing its diet of large nuts (in captivity, even Brazil nuts pose no problem), seeds, fruits and leaf buds. The maxillary, or upper beak, is twice the size of that of its largest relative (its genus name, Probosciger, alludes to the beak).
#Probosciger Patch#
The face patch can also be covered with feathers during communication displays.
#Probosciger skin#
The skin on these patches varies in color from dull red to bright crimson, depending on the bird’s mood, stress level, health and other factors of which we are as yet unaware. Palm cockatoos are also unusual in possessing bare patches on the cheeks. In fact, “palms” seem prone to odd modes of self-expression - when frightened, rather than hissing in typical cockatoo fashion, they stamp their feet! This behavior, known as “drumming”, is repeated anywhere from 2 to over 100 times, and creates quite a racket. Most likely as an adaptation to a thickly forested habitat where sound travels poorly, palm cockatoos beat sticks and large nuts against hollow trees when communicating with others of their kind.
goliath being the largest.Īlthough this bird is unique among cockatoos in many ways, perhaps its most distinguishing feature is tool use - a phenomenon quite rare among birds in general. Three subspecies have been identified, with New Guinea’s P. They are native to northern Australia’s Cape York Peninsula, New Guinea, Aru Island and smaller neighboring islands. Palm cockatoos, also known as black palm cockatoos or goliath aratoos, are the only tropical rain forest-adapted members of their family - the rest being more at home in dry, often sparsely vegetative habitats. Today I would like to tell you about my involvement with the first large group of palm cockatoos brought into this country and to discuss some of this magnificent creature’s unique characteristics.īut first, if I may, a bit more about what distinguishes this bird from the approximately 20 other species belonging to the family Cacatuidae, the cockatoos (all of which are members of the order Psittaciformes, along with parrots, lories and macaws). Adding to the air of imposing size, the head is topped by a crest of long feathers and the beak is massive. Its jet black feathers are set off by powdery gray down and highlighted by brilliant red cheek patches. At nearly 30 inches in length and with a 30-inch wingspan, this giant among cockatoos approaches the hyacinth macaw, Andorhynchus hyacinthus, the largest of the world’s 350+ species of parrot-like birds, in size. Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2023) IUCN Red List for birds.It is not easy for a single species to stand out among a group of birds as spectacular as the cockatoos, but the striking palm cockatoo does so quite handily. Population size:ĭecreasing Extent of occurrence (breeding/resident):īirdLife International (2023) Species factsheet: Probosciger aterrimus. For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern. The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). Justification of Red List category This species has a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 30% decline over ten years or three generations).
Click here for more information about the Red List categories and criteria
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