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12

Western Corella (Cacatua pastinator) Alternate name(s): "Western Long-billed Corella", "Muir's Corella" (nominate race pastinator) Aboriginal name(s): "manyt", "manatj" "nganarra", "binadji" Size: 40-48 cm Weight: 560-815 g

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Similar species

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

Physical description Click here for a physical description Western Corellas are small cockatoos. In many of their properties (size, length of upper mandible, amount of red on chest and lores) they are situated in between the smaller Little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea) and the Long-billed Corella (Cacatua tenuirostris). They are almost all-white, except a blue eye-patch, red pink lores and a general light-pink hue of the head and front, down to the undertail coverts. They have some pink feathers on the upper chest that can be hidden. Only when the wings are extended, one can see that the underwings are pale-yellow. The undertail has a slightly stronger yellow hue than the underwings. The irises are dark, the bill is light-grey and has a long upper mandible, the legs and feet are grey. Western Corellas or the more northern/inland race "derbyi" are on average smaller and lighter than those of nominate race "pastinator".

Taxonomy, classification See Western Corella at Wikipedia . Click here for classification information Western Corellas have now been given species status and are not any longer considered to be a race of the Little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea).

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 Western Corella is available HERE . Western Corellas are endemic to Australia, where they have a limited range. Nominate race "pastinator" is found only in remnant woodland in a small area in the far South-west of WA (but not on the coastline). Race "derbyi", which includes fomer race "butleri", is found on the central WA coast and farther inland, from about Kalbarri NP half-way to Kalgoorlie, WA, and further southward along the coastal hinterland, to North-east of Perth, WA. Western Corellas have a preference for open sclerophyl woodland.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "derbyi" J. Greaves reports spotting a flock of thousands of Western Corellas, race "derbyi", near the sewage treatment works of Dalwallinu, 250 km to the North-east of Perth, WA, in January 2016. C. Pears found a Western Corella, race "derbyi", at Lake Monger, Perth, WA, in May 2021.

Photos

Race "derbyi"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Lateral/ventral view of two Western Corellas (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Dalwallinu, 250 km NE of Perth, WA, January 2016]

Western Corellas studying the photographer (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Dalwallinu, 250 km NE of Perth, WA, January 2016]

Close-up near-dorsal view of a Western Corella (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Dalwallinu, 250 km NE of Perth, WA, January 2016]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of two Western Corellas (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Dalwallinu, 250 km NE of Perth, WA, January 2016]

Lateral view of a Western Corella launching itself into the air; this shows very clearly the pinkish tint on the front, from the head down to the undertail coverts, while the underwings and the undertail are pale-yellow (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Dalwallinu, 250 km NE of Perth, WA, January 2016]

"Western Corella tree" (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Dalwallinu, 250 km NE of Perth, WA, January 2016]

Part of a flock of Western Corellas in flight (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Dalwallinu, 250 km NE of Perth, WA, January 2016]

Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD)

Lateral view of an old and/or sick Western Corella (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Monger, Perth, WA, May 2021]

Near-dorsal view of an old and/or sick Western Corella (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Monger, Perth, WA, May 2021]

Dorsal view of an old and/or sick Western Corella (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Monger, Perth, WA, May 2021]

Behaviour

Like all hollow-nesting species in which the female takes on all the incubation duties and is therefore entirely reliant on the male for food, Western Corellas have elaborate bonding rituals, in which the male has to prove his mettle, such as allo-preening, bringing gifts and feeding the female.

Male Western Corella, left, bringing his partner an offering of eucalypt seeds (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Monger, Perth, WA, May 2021]

Male Western Corella, left, feeding his partner (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Monger, Perth, WA, May 2021]

Food, Diet

Lateral view of a Western Corella feeding on buffalo grass clippings (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Monger, Perth, WA, May 2021]

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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