Glossy Black Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus lathami

The Glossy Black Cockatoo is native to eastern Australia.

Despite its name, it is not very glossy and has a brown head; the name in German translates to "brown-headed" cockatoo. The male (above left) has an entirely brown head but the female (above right) usually has some yellow patches, varying from very little to several large patches.

The male (above right) also has vertical red bars in the tail, similar to the Red-tailed Cockatoo. The female (above left/centre) has horizontal red stripes in her tail, similar to those of the female Red-tailed. She also may have a few yellow spots on her wings/body, but, if any, far fewer than the female Red-tailed.

The Glossy is smaller than the Red-tailed, about 10cm shorter at up to 50cm. While a large bird, it is the smallest of the 6 species of black cockatoos. It is uncommon and some populations are endangered, mainly by clearing of the few trees it relies on for its limited diet of seeds and predation of its eggs/nestlings.