AY Honors/Parrots and Cockatoos/Answer Key
The Palm Cockatoo, Probosciger aterrimus, is a large black parrot of the cockatoo family. It is found in northern Queensland and New Guinea. It measures around 55-60 cm in length and weighs between 500-1000 g. It is a distinctive bird with a large crest and one of the largest bills of any parrot (only the Hyacinth Macaw's is larger). The bill is also unusual as the lower and upper mandibles do not meet for much of its length, allowing the tongue to hold a nut against the top mandible while the lower mandible works to open it. The Palm Cockatoo also has a distinctive red gape that changes colour when the bird is alarmed or excited.
The Palm Cockatoo makes four different kinds of vocalisations. It also has a unique display where the bird drums a large branch against a dead bough or tree, creating a loud noise that can be heard up to 100 m away.
The Palm Cockatoo is currently listed as near-threatened. It is in high demand for the pet trade due to its unusual appearance, but does not breed well in captivity, requiring the removal of wild birds, and is therefore listed as CITES I. It is still relatively common in Cape York, but is threatened there by habitat loss.
Alfred Hitchcock once used one to play an "evil bird" in one of his movies due to their striking and unusual appearance.
References
- Flegg, Jim. Birds of Australia: Photographic Field Guide Sydney: Reed New Holland, 2002. (ISBN 1876334789)
