Palm Cockatoo
Probosciger aterrimus
The Palm Cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus) is a rare cockatoo found in 7 countries, weighing about 841 g. The palm cockatoo, also known as the goliath cockatoo or great black cockatoo, is a large, smoky-grey/black parrot of the cockatoo family native to New Guinea, the Aru Islands and the Cape York Peninsula in Queensland, Australia.
About the Palm Cockatoo
The palm cockatoo, also known as the goliath cockatoo or great black cockatoo, is a large, smoky-grey/black parrot of the cockatoo family native to New Guinea, the Aru Islands and the Cape York Peninsula in Queensland, Australia. It has a crest of long feathers atop its head, with a very large and strong, sharply-hooked black beak, and prominent bright-red cheek patches.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The palm cockatoo is 55 to 60 cm (22 to 24 in) in length and weighs 910–1,200 g (2.01–2.65 lb). It may be the largest cockatoo species and largest parrot in Australia, although large races of yellow-tailed black cockatoos and sulphur-crested cockatoos broadly overlap in size. It is a distinctive bird with a large crest and has one of the largest bills of any parrot (only the hyacinth macaw's is larger). This powerful bill enables palm cockatoos not only to eat very hard nuts and seeds, but also enables males to break off thick (about 1 in (2. Voice: The vocalizations of palm cockatoos are similar to those of most wild parrots, but they have also been shown to produce a variety of additional syllables in display and exchange with neighbouring individuals. These additional syllables are mainly produced by males and are often combined to form long, complex sequences. In a population in the Iron Range, 30 different syllables were distinguished.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Thailand.
When to see it
Best months: January, February, April, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in July. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Palm Cockatoo?
- The palm cockatoo is 55 to 60 cm (22 to 24 in) in length and weighs 910–1,200 g (2.01–2.65 lb). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Palm Cockatoo?
- The Palm Cockatoo is a large sized bird weighing about 841 g.
- Where can you see a Palm Cockatoo?
- The Palm Cockatoo occurs in 7 countries, including Australia, Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong SAR China, Singapore and Indonesia.
- What birds look similar to a Palm Cockatoo?
- The Palm Cockatoo is most easily confused with the Tanimbar Corella, the Western Corella and the Baudin's Black Cockatoo.
- Is the Palm Cockatoo endangered?
- The Palm Cockatoo is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Palm Cockatoo for real
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