Bird Guide

Cockatiel vs Glossy Black Cockatoo

Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus)

Cockatiel

Nymphicus hollandicus

Medium95 gGrassland

The cockatiel's distinctive crest expresses the animal's emotional state. The crest is dramatically vertical when the cockatiel is startled or excited, gently oblique in its neutral or relaxed state, and flattened close to the head when the animal is angry or defensive. The crest is also held flat but protrudes outward in the back when the cockatiel is trying to appear alluring or flirtatious. When the cockatiel is tired, the crest is seen positioned halfway upwards, with the tip of the crest usually curling upward.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Rolf Lawrenz · CC BY 4.0
Glossy Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami)

Glossy Black Cockatoo

Calyptorhynchus lathami

Large437 gForest

Like the related red-tailed black cockatoo, this species is sexually dimorphic. The male glossy black cockatoo is predominantly black with a chocolate-brown head and striking caudal red patches. The female is a duller dark brown, with flecks of yellow in the tail and collar. The female's tail is barred whereas the male's tail is patched. An adult will grow to be about 46–50 cm (18–19.5 in) in length.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Glossy Black Cockatoo
Recorded by James Ray · Begging call · Faulconbridge, Blue Mountains City Council, New South Wales, Australia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Didier B (Sam67fr) · CC BY 2.5

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Cockatiel and Glossy Black Cockatoo.