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Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii) Alternate name(s): "Banks's Black Cockatoo", "Banksian Black Cockatoo" Aboriginal name(s): "wyralla", "anulka", "yarbi" (WA); Race "banksii": "pachang" [pakanh], "inhulg" [uw oykangand], "anhulg" [uw olkola] Race "naso": "karak" [noongar] Race "samueli": "dirandi" (WA), "iranti" [pitjantjatjara] Race "macrorhynchus": "ngarnarrh", "karnamarr-to" [gunwinggu] Race "graptogyne": "treen" [bungandidj] Size: 50-65 cm; wing span: ca. 1.1 m Body mass: 670-920 g (male), 615-870 g (female) Wing loading [g/cm2]: ca. 0.35-0.50

Australia: Family Group 12 Family Group 12 Table Palm Cockatoo Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo Glossy Black-Cockatoo Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo Short-billed Black-Cockatoo Long-billed Black-Cockatoo Gang-gang Cockatoo Long-billed Corella Western Corella Little Corella Cockatiel Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Pink Cockatoo Galah Rainbow Lorikeet Red-collared Lorikeet Scaly-breasted Lorikeet Purple-crowned Lorikeet Varied Lorikeet Musk Lorikeet Little Lorikeet Eclectus Parrot Red-cheeked Parrot Double-eyed Fig-Parrot Australian King-Parrot Red-winged Parrot Princess Parrot Superb Parrot Regent Parrot Green Rosella Crimson Rosella Western Rosella Eastern Rosella Pale-headed Rosella Northern Rosella Red-capped Parrot Australian Ringneck Red-rumped Parrot Mulga Parrot Golden-shouldered Parrot Hooded Parrot Blue Bonnet Bourke's Parrot Budgerigar Swift Parrot Eastern Ground Parrot Night Parrot Blue-winged Parrot Scarlet-chested Parrot Rock Parrot Turquoise Parrot Elegant Parrot Family group table Index of bird names Habitat pages Key plants Thumbnails page Birds home page

Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos are noisy, large Black-Cockatoos that usually live in flocks. Their plumage is dimorphic, i.e. males and females are slightly different. Male Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos have glossy black plumage, with a big crest. Females are spotted (head, wings) or barred (front) yellow. While males have solid red undertail panels, those of females are barred, with a colour gradient from orange to red. Males have dark-grey bills, females light-grey ones. The irises of both sexes are dark, the legs and feet grey. Juveniles resemble female Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos, with a darker head. Twitcher's tip Compared with Glossy Black-Cockatoos, Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos have a much more pronounced crest and larger red tail panels.

Taxonomy, classification See Red-tailed Black Cockatoo at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo is available HERE . Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos are endemic to the Australian continent. There are five races - for details see a field guide. Nominate race "banksii" is found basically only in QLD, except the south-western corner of the state (the Lake Eyre Basin). Along the tropical North of Australia, from the southern tip of the Gulf of Carpentaria in the East to about the Kimberley in the West, and across the northern half of the NT, race "macrorhynchus" is found. In the western half of WA (except a narrow coastal strip and the south-western corner) race "samueli" is present. This inland race also inhabits the arid centre, in the border regions between the NT, SA and QLD, and also along parts of the Darling River (notably in Walgett, NSW) and some of its tributaries. Race "naso" is found only in the south-western corner of WA and race "graptogyne" in the coastal region near the SA/VIC border. Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos can be found in various types of forest, from open to dense, often with cypress and/or black pine. In the interior of the continent, they are often found in River Red Gums along rivers and creeks. They also go into areas with human activity (farms, parks) to feed on other seeds, such as e.g. those of the White Cedar tree. Where to look? How to find this species? Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos are most easily found near major inland watercourses, e.g. along the Darling River. There they will often be perched in River Red Gums. In general, when not feeding they will usually be perched high up in the crowns of tall trees. In townships they can be found feeding on seeds, e.g. of White Cedar trees. At sunset they can often also be found drinking water from rivers, creeks or dams.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "banksii" Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos, nominate race "banksii", were spotted by L. Tonnochy 20 km West of Townsville, QLD, in May 2012. M. Mearns reports spotting Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos, race "banksii", near Croydon, QLD, in July 2016 and again in September 2019, and at Cobbold Gorge, QLD, in July 2016. A. Campbell reports finding Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos, race "banksii", at Mount McEuen, QLD, in December 2016. M. Eaton reports spotting Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos, race "banksii", at Bunya Mountains NP, QLD, in March 2018. They were also found in Windorah, QLD, in August 2022 and at Machans Beach, Cairns, QLD, in October 2024. A. Ross-Taylor found Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos, race "banksii", at Taylors Beach, near Ingham, QLD, in November 2021, and on the Atherton Tablelands, QLD, in May 2022. J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours found Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos, race "banksii", at Mareeba, QLD, in August 2020. They were spotted at the same location again in September 2023 and again in June 2024. Race "macrorhynchus" Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos, race "macrorhynchus", were observed by S. Kirkby in the NT, about 100 km South of Darwin, NT, in June 2011. B. Hensen reports spotting race "macrorhynchus" in Darwin, NT, in July 2013. We have found them in the Darwin area again in August 2014. J. Greaves reports spotting Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos, race "macrorhynchus", at Yellow Water, Kakadu NP, NT, in November 2014. P. Brown found Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos, race "macrorhynchus", along the Marrakai track, Top End, NT, in August 2018, and along the Bird Billabong, Adelaide River, Mary River NP, Top End, NT, in November 2019. M. Eaton reports finding Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos, race "macrorhynchus", in Keep River NP, NT, in July 2020, and in Kakadu NP in June 2023. C. Pears spotted Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos, race "macrorhynchus", at the Broome Bird Observatory, Broome, WA, in June 2025. Race "samueli" Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos, race "samueli", were first spotted by us on a trip to western NSW in March 2008. There were tens of birds along the banks of the Darling River in the township of Bourke, NSW, plus many more farther South-West, following the Darling River. In October 2010 there were at least 100 Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos, race "samueli", in the township of Walgett, western NSW, feasting on the previous year's White Cedar fruit. Small flocks of Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos, race "samueli", were again present in Brewarrina and Walgett, NSW, feeding in flowering White Cedar trees in September 2012. They are found along the Barwon/Darling River system regularly. J. Greaves reports spotting Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos, race "samueli", at Merredin, WA, in February 2015. Race "naso" J. Greaves reports spotting Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos, race "naso", at Mundaring, 35 km East of Perth, WA, in December 2014, and in Bungendore Park, SE of Perth, in June 2015. M. Eaton found a Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo, race "naso", in Perth, WA, in April 2019. C. Pears reports finding Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos, race "naso", in Swanbourne and at Lake Claremont, Perth, WA, in April 2021. They were also found at Mellenbye Station, ca. 50 km NE of Morawa, WA, in September 2022. A mob of about 50 was found at City Beach, Perth, WA, in March 2025. Others were found at the Lesmurdie Falls, WA, in June 2026. Twitcher's tip If you see black cockatoos with red tail markings in a group of only a few, it is likely that you are looking at Glossy Black-Cockatoos. If they come in a big flock, they are likely to be Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos.

Photos

Race "banksii"

ADULT

PAIR

Frontal view of a pair of Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos; male on the left, female on the right (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Cobbold Gorge, QLD, July 2016]

Dorsal view of a pair of Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos trying to balance on the highest tips of a tree; male on the left, female on the right (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Mareeba, QLD, August 2020]

Dorsal view of two pairs of Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos; both males on the right, females on the left
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Atherton Tablelands, QLD, May 2022]

MALE

Near-frontal view of a male Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo looking sideways (photo courtesy of L. Tonnochy)
[Near Townsville, QLD, May 2012]

Lateral view of a male Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo (photo courtesy of L. Tonnochy)
[Near Townsville, QLD, May 2012]

Lateral/ventral view of a male Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Taylors Beach, near Ingham, QLD, November 2021]

Lateral/ventral view of a male Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Machans Beach, Cairns, QLD, October 2024]

Lateral view of a male Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo diving off its perch (photo courtesy of L. Tonnochy)
[Near Townsville, QLD, May 2012]

Lateral view onto the back of a male Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo, showing its upperwings (photo courtesy of L. Tonnochy)
[Near Townsville, QLD, May 2012]

Male Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo calling in-flight (photo courtesy of L. Tonnochy)
[Near Townsville, QLD, May 2012]

FEMALE

Frontal view of a female Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo looking sideways (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Atherton Tablelands, QLD, May 2022]

Close-up near-frontal/ventral view of a female Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Machans Beach, Cairns, QLD, October 2024]

Near-lateral view of a female Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Atherton Tablelands, QLD, May 2022]

Close-up near-lateral/ventral view of a female Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Mareeba, QLD, September 2023]

Near-lateral/ventral view of a female Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Croydon, QLD, September 2019]

Lateral portrait of a female Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Croydon, QLD, September 2019]

Lateral view of a female Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo; note the whitish bill, the speckles and the barred pattern on the tail
(photo courtesy of A. Campbell)
[Mount McEuen, QLD, December 2016]

Lateral view of a female Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo munching on a seed cone (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Taylors Beach, near Ingham, QLD, November 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a female Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo, centre, flanked by two males
(photo courtesy of A. Campbell)
[Mount McEuen, QLD, December 2016]

Close-up near-frontal/ventral view of a female Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo banking sharply
(photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Mareeba, QLD, June 2024]

Close-up near-lateral/ventral view of a female Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo banking to land
(photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Mareeba, QLD, September 2023]

Sex unknown

Mob of Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos feeding on the ground (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Windorah, QLD, August 2022]

Closer look at Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos feeding on the ground (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Windorah, QLD, August 2022]

Race "macrorhynchus"

ADULT

MALE

Frontal view of a male Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo (photo courtesy of S. Kirkby)
[Near Darwin, NT, June 2011]

Near-lateral view of a male Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo feasting on roasted nuts, in an area where parts were still smouldering after a bush fire (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kakadu NP, NT, June 2023]

Lateral view of a male Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Marrakai track, Top End, NT, August 2018]

Dorsal view of a male Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Keep River NP, NT, July 2020]

Dorsal view of a male Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Darwin, NT, July 2013]

FEMALE

Near-lateral view of a female Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo looking towards the observer (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Marrakai track, Top End, NT, August 2018]

Near-lateral view of a female Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo feasting on roasted nuts, in an area where parts were still smouldering after a bush fire (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kakadu NP, NT, June 2023]

Lateral view of a female Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Marrakai track, Top End, NT, August 2018]

Dorsal view of a female Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Marrakai track, Top End, NT, August 2018]

Ventral view of a female Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo (photo courtesy of S. Kirkby)
[Near Darwin, NT, June 2011]

Race "samueli"

ADULT

MALE

Close-up frontal view of a male Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo
[Walgett, NSW, October 2010]

Close-up lateral view of a male Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo
[Brewarrina, NSW, September 2012]

FEMALE

Frontal view of a female Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo
[Walgett, NSW, October 2010]

Close-up near-frontal view of a female Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo
[Bourke, NSW, September 2017]

Near-dorsal view of a female Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo looking backwards
[Bourke, NSW, September 2017]

Near-dorsal view of a female Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo
[Brewarrina, NSW, September 2012]

Lateral view of a female Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo in gliding flight
[Walgett, NSW, October 2010]

Near-lateral view of a female Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo in flight
[Near Walgett, NSW, March 2016]

Ventral view of a female Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo in flight
[Near Walgett, NSW, March 2016]

Race "naso"

ADULT

PAIR

Frontal/lateral view of a pair of Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos feeding on eucalypt seeds (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[City Beach, Perth, WA, March 2025]

Near-lateral/ventral view of a pair of Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos; male on the right, female on the left
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Mundaring, 35 km East of Perth, WA, December 2014]

Three pairs of Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Claremont, Perth, WA, April 2021]

Lateral/near-dorsal view of a pair of Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos feeding on eucalypt seeds (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[City Beach, Perth, WA, March 2025]

Near-dorsal view of a pair of Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos in flight (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[City Beach, Perth, WA, March 2025]

MALE

Near-frontal/ventral view of a male Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Mundaring, 35 km East of Perth, WA, December 2014]

Near-lateral view of a male Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Bungendore Park, near Perth, WA, June 2015]

Near-lateral/ventral view of a male Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo landing in the top of a eucalypt (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Bungendore Park, near Perth, WA, June 2015]

Lateral view of a male Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo balancing on the tip of a dead twig (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Mellenbye Station, ca. 50 km NE of Morawa, WA, September 2022]

Near-dorsal view of a male Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo looking sideways (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[City Beach, Perth, WA, March 2025]

Dorsal view of a male Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo looking sideways (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[City Beach, Perth, WA, March 2025]

FEMALE

Close-up frontal/ventral view of a female Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo; note (in the large version of this photo) the bird's foreward vision (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lesmurdie Falls, near Perth, WA, June 2026]

Frontal view of a female Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Bungendore Park, near Perth, WA, June 2015]

Near-frontal view of a female Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo looking sideways (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[City Beach, Perth, WA, March 2025]

Near-lateral view of a female Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Bungendore Park, near Perth, WA, June 2015]

Close-up lateral view of a female Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo feasting on the fruit of a White Cedar
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Perth, WA, April 2019]

Sex unknown

Lateral view of a small mob of Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos in flight (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[City Beach, Perth, WA, March 2025]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Close-up lateral/ventral view of a juvenile Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo; this bird's begging calls were recorded on 22 June 2026 (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lesmurdie Falls, near Perth, WA, June 2026]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal

Mobility: Dispersive

Elementary unit: Flock

Food, Diet

Adults: Seeds

Dependents: Regurgitated seeds

Water intake: Daily

Like basically all cockatoos, Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos are seed-eaters, where seeds include those in cones and nut-like fruit, for example that of the White Cedar tree. We have also found them in White Cedars when they were flowering.

Overview of a small mob of Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos feeding in a flowering White Cedar tree
[Walgett, NSW, September 2010]

Frontal view of a male Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo "macrorhynchus" chewing on a casuarina seed cone
[Darwin, NT, August 2014]

Pair of Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos "macrorhynchus" feasting on roasted nuts, in an area where parts were still smouldering after a bush fire (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kakadu NP, NT, June 2023]

Close-up frontal/ventral view of a female Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo munching an unripe seed of a eucalypt
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lesmurdie Falls, near Perth, WA, June 2026]

Male Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo "banksii" chewing on something it has just picked up (photo courtesy of L. Tonnochy)
[Near Townsville, QLD, May 2012]

Lateral view of a male Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo "macrorhynchus" feeding on a fruit (photo courtesy of S. Kirkby)
[Near Darwin, NT, June 2011]

Pair of Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos, race "macrorhynchus", feeding on fresh shoots (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Bird Billabong, Adelaide River, Mary River NP, Top End, NT, November 2019]

Small flock of Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos "samueli" landing to feed on grain on a fallow field (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Merredin, WA, February 2015]

Closer look at a pair of Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos "samueli" on the stubble (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Merredin, WA, February 2015]

This is what it looks like when Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos have worked over a eucalypt (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, March 2025]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

redtail_20140816_2.m4a	macrorhynchus (Darwin, NT)	Contact call	© MD
redtail_20140818.m4a	macrorhynchus (Top End, NT)	Contact calls	© MD
redtail_20140818_2.m4a	macrorhynchus (Top End, NT)	Contact calls (in-flight)	© MD
redtail_20140816_5.m4a	macrorhynchus (Darwin, NT)	Pair Q&A	© MD
redtail_20140816_3.m4a	macrorhynchus (Darwin, NT)	?	© MD
redtail_20140816_4.mp3	macrorhynchus (Darwin, NT)	?	© MD
redtail_20140816.m4a	macrorhynchus (Darwin, NT)	?	© MD
redtail_pb_20210924.m4a	macrorhynchus (Top End, NT)	?	© PB
redtail_20170920.m4a	samueli (W NSW)	Contact calls (male)	© MD
redtail_20170920_2.m4a	samueli (W NSW)	Begging calls (female)	© MD
redtail_20170920_3.m4a	samueli (W NSW)	Begging calls (female), contact call (male)	© MD
redtail_20170920_4.m4a	samueli (W NSW)	Begging calls (female), contact call (male)	© MD
redtail_jg_20150613.m4a	naso (SW WA)	Various	© JG
redtail_cp_20260622.m4a	naso (SW WA)	Begging calls (juvenile)	© CP

More Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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