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Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo (Zanda funerea) Alternate name(s): "Funereal Black Cockatoo", "Yellow-eared Black-Cockatoo", "Black Cockatoo*" Aboriginal name(s): "wiRan"/"wiRayn" [tjapwurrung, djadjawurrung]; "wayilahr" [western bundjalung], "girayir"/"gireh" [eastern bundjalung]; "wylah" Size: 55-65 cm; wing span: ca. 1.25 m Body mass: 730-900 g Wing loading [g/cm2]: 0.40-0.55

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 Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos large Black-Cockatoos that usually live in small to medium-sized flocks. Their plumage is dimorphic, i.e. males and females are slightly different. Both sexes have dull black plumage, with a small crest. Grey edge lining of the feathers leads to a slightly scalloped appearance. Male Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos have small yellow ear patches, pink eye-rings, a dark-grey bill and two solid-yellow undertail panels. Females have larger yellow ear patches, grey eye-rings, a light-grey bill and finely barred tail panels. The irises are dark, legs and feet are grey. Juvenile Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos have a pinkish bill; they can be identified easily, because they are always begging for food with strident begging calls.

Taxonomy, classification See Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo at Wikipedia . Click here for classification information The classification of Australian Black-Cockatoo species has undergone a major revision, with the introduction of the new genus Zanda. Three species were moved from the genus "Calyptorhynchus" into "Zanda": Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Short-billed Black-Cockatoo, and Long-billed Black-Cockatoo.

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 Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo is available HERE . There are three races of Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos, all of which are endemic to Australia. The range of Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos extends along the South and East coast of Australia, from about the tip of the Eyre peninsula, SA, to about the tropic of Capricorn in QLD. Especially in QLD, but also in other areas, Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos are also found in parts of the Great Dividing Range, up to a few hundred km from the coastline. To the West of Melbourne, VIC, race "whiteae" is found, whereas eastward of Melbourne and up the East coast nominate race "funerea" is present. Race "xanthanota" populates all of Tasmania and the islands along Bass Strait. Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos live in various types of forest, from open to dense (including rainforest). Inland they are often present in wooded areas with Cypress Pine. They also go into areas with human activity (farms, parks) to feed on other seed cones, such as e.g. those of the White Cedar tree. Where to look? How to find this species? The best approach to finding Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos is to look for large dead trees in woodland or forest, where they can perch in significant numbers. Moving flocks will also draw attention to themselves with their calls while flying above the canopy of wooded areas.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "funerea" Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos are not as common as other cockatoo species West of the Great Dividing Range. The first time we spotted one bird of race "funerea" was 25 km West of Narrabri in 2003. Since then we have seen Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos, race "funerea", in the area a few times, e.g. on the northern edge of Jack's Creek State Forest, 20 km South of Narrabri, following Bohena Creek into the Pilliga scrub, and also 25 km West of Narrabri and 20 km South-West of Narrabri. The next sighting in the northern Pilliga NP came years later, in 2013, and again in August 2026. We see Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos, race "funerea", most regularly when going into the hills of the Great Dividing Range, e.g. at Bald Rock NP, northern NSW, in October 2007. They are also seen regularly between Tamworth and Gloucester, NSW, and e.g. in Jilliby SCA and Watagans NP, South of Cessnock, NSW. A fair number of Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos, race "funerea", were also spotted at Coolah Tops NP, 30 km East of Coolah, NSW, in May 2009. Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos, race "funerea", are also seen by us regularly along the NSW coastline, e.g. in Royal NP, 20 km South of Sydney, some littoral rainforest and in other locations along the East coast of NSW and QLD, including suburbs of major cities, but less frequently than in the major forests in the Great Dividing Range. R. Plumtree reports spotting Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos, race "funerea", occasionally at Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC. M. Eaton found Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos, race "funerea", at Gloucester Tops, Barrington Tops NP, NSW, in December 2019. They were also found near Yamba, NSW, in January 2021. Others were found at Lamington NP, Gold Coast, QLD, in October 2024. T. Froia Drummond reports spotting a pair of Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos, race "funerea", at Pomona, Sunshine Coast, QLD, in November 2020. V. Collins reports finding Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos, race "funerea", at Newcastle Airport, Newcastle, NSW, in December 2020. Race "xanthanota" B. Hensen reports spotting Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos, race "xanthanota", on Bruny Island, TAS, in March 2016. M. Eaton found Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos, race "xanthanota", at Goulds Lagoon, Hobart, TAS, in April 2021, and at Margate, Kingborough, TAS, in September 2021.

Photos

Race "funerea"

ADULT

PAIR

Many bird species exhibit sexual dimorphism, i.e., male and female have differing appearances which can be quite subtle.
The easiest way to tell the sexes of Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos apart is by the colour of the orbital skin around the eyes. In males, left, it is pink, in females black. Apart from that, females have larger and brighter yellow ear patches and their bill tends to be a lighter shade of grey than the males'.

Frontal/ventral view of a pair of Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos; the female, on the right, is giving her mate some "TLC" - this type of behaviour is part of a bonding ritual (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Cooroy, QLD, December 2017]

Near-frontal view of a pair of Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos in flight
[Near Dungowan, NSW, July 2013]

MALE

Frontal view of a male Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo; note the pink eye-ring (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Moggill Regional Park, near Anstead, QLD, May 2019]

Close-up near-frontal/ventral view of a male Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo
[Near Glen Innes, NSW, May 2014]

Lateral view of a male Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Ravensbourne NP, QLD, June 2016]

Lateral view of a male Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo checking out the photographer
[Jilliby SCA, NSW, July 2013]

Close-up lateral/ventral view of a male Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo
[Near Glen Innes, NSW, May 2014]

Dorsal view of a male Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo in coastal banksia (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Yamba, NSW, January 2021]

Dorsal/ventral view of a male Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo looking back down at the observer
[Near Glen Innes, NSW, May 2014]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a male Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo in flight
[20 km S of Wee Waa, NSW, August 2026]

FEMALE

Frontal view of a female Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo looking sideways; note the dark eye-ring and the light-grey bill
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Barrington Tops NP, NSW, December 2019]

Frontal view of a preening female Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Cooroy, QLD, December 2017]

Close-up frontal/ventral view of a female Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo
[Near Glen Innes, NSW, May 2014]

Close-up near-frontal/ventral view of a female Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo feeding on a seed cone
[Near Glen Innes, NSW, May 2014]

Near-lateral view of a female Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo
[Near Gloucester, NSW, September 2011]

Lateral view of a female Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo looking at the observer - one can clearly see the crossed alignment of the crest feathers (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[St. Albans, NSW, November 2017]

Lateral view of a female Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[St. Albans, NSW, November 2017]

Lateral view of a female Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lamington NP, Gold Coast, QLD, October 2024]

Lateral view of a female Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Barrington Tops NP, NSW, December 2019]

Lateral view of a female Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo
[Port Macquarie, NSW, January 2011]

Near-dorsal view of a female Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo looking sideways (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, January 2017]

Dorsal view of a female Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Barrington Tops NP, NSW, December 2019]

Lateral view of a female Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo launching itself into the air (photo courtesy of E. Scott)
[Roseberry Creek Valley, near Toonumbar NP, northern NSW, January 2017]

Sex unknown

Near-frontal view of 3 Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos in flight
[Manning Point, NSW, July 2013]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of 3 Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos in flight
[Near Dungowan, NSW, July 2013]

Oh, sh..! (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, January 2017]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Near-lateral/ventral view of a male Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo, left, with a begging juvenile in tow
[Near Glen Innes, NSW, May 2014]

Race "xanthanota"

ADULT

MALE

Near-dorsal view of a male Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo; note the skin-coloured eye ring and dark-grey bill, which distinguish it from females (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Bruny Island, TAS, March 2016]

FEMALE

Lateral view of a female Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo; note the grey orbital skin (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Margate, Kingborough, TAS, September 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a female Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Margate, Kingborough, TAS, September 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a female Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Margate, Kingborough, TAS, September 2021]

Dorsal view of a female Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo looking sideways (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Bruny Island, TAS, March 2016]

Dorsal/ventral view of a female Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Margate, Kingborough, TAS, September 2021]

Dorsal/ventral view of a female Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Goulds Lagoon, Hobart, TAS, April 2021]

Breeding information

Breeding season: May - Jan

Eggs: 2

Incubation period: 28 days

Fledging age: ca. 77 days

The breeding season of Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos depends on geographic latitude. In the SE of Australia it is restricted to the period from Oct to May.

Usually only one of the two chicks survives. It is brooded by the female for about 3 weeks, before the male, who up to then fed the female, will also feed the chick itself.

Nest building: Female(?)

Incubation: Female

Dependent care: First female, then female & male

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Tree hollow

Material: Woodchips for lining

Height above ground: 10 - 25 m

Entrance to a nesting hollow in which we observed a Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo
[Jilliby SCA, NSW, July 2013]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 48 x 36 mm

Colour: White

Shape: Rounded(?)

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal

Mobility: Sedentary

Elementary unit: Pair/flock

Frontal/ventral view of a pair of Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos; the female, on the right, is giving her mate some "TLC" - this type of behaviour is part of a bonding ritual (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Cooroy, QLD, December 2017]

Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos are sociable birds that can often be seen in small groups or flocks of up to 50 (sometimes hundreds of) individuals
[Near Dungowan, NSW, July 2013]

Food, Diet

Adults: Seeds

Dependents: Regurgitated seeds

Water intake: Daily

Like basically all cockatoos, Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos are primarily seed-eaters, where seeds include those in cones and nut-like fruit. The pair shown above showed a strong interest in the cones of a casuarina tree on which they were found sitting; if that is the case, it indicates that their bills are strong enough to crack those cones.

Lateral view of a male Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo feeding in coastal banksia (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Yamba, NSW, January 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a female Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo feeding in coastal banksia (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Yamba, NSW, January 2021]

Lateral view of a male Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo pulling seeds out of a cone (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, December 2013]

Frontal view of a female Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo pulling seeds out of a cone (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, March 2014]

Near-frontal/ventral view of a female Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo feeding on a seed cone
[Near Glen Innes, NSW, May 2014]

Near-frontal/ventral view of a female Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo pulling seeds out of a seed cone
[Near Glen Innes, NSW, May 2014]

Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos, race "xanthanota", feasting on seeds (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Bruny Island, TAS, March 2016]

Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos have been observed by us chomping on tree branches and young trees, apparently feeding on something under the bark, possibly in the (rotten?) core, see below.

Damage done by a Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo to a sapling tree; Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatos are known to take grubs, such as e.g. Witchety grubs, that may have caused the initial damage to the plant's core
[Jilliby SCA, NSW, July 2013]

Here the cause of such damage: Frontal view of a female Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo pulling a grub out of the core of a branch of a White Cedar tree (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[St. Albans, NSW, November 2017]

Lateral portrait of a male Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo determined to [literally] get its grub (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Ravensbourne NP, QLD, June 2016]

"Before and after": Seed cone of an introduced conifer (left) and what is left over once a Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo is finished with it...
[Near Glen Innes, NSW, May 2014]

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.

yeltail_20160313_3.m4a	funerea (SE QLD)	Contact calls	© MD
yeltail_20260127.m4a	funerea (E NSW)	Contact calls	© MD
yeltail_20260127_2.m4a	funerea (E NSW)	Contact calls (in-flight)	© MD
yeltail_vc_20230102.mp3	funerea (NW NSW)	Contact calls (in-flight)	© VC
yeltail_20220630.m4a	funerea (Ctl W NSW)	Contact calls (pair in-flight)	© MD
yeltail_20140526.mp3	funerea (NE NSW)	Warning calls	© MD
yeltail_20140526_6.mp3	funerea (NE NSW)	Begging calls (juvenile)	© MD
yeltail_20140526_3.mp3	funerea (NE NSW)	Juvenile pestering parent	© MD

More Yellow-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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