Palm cockatoo

Probosciger aterrimus

Photo by Doug Janson (Wikipedia)

Common name:
palm cockatoo (en); cacatua-das-palmeiras (pt); cacatoès noir (fr); cacatúa enlutada (es); palmkakadu (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Psittaciformes
Family Cacatuidae

Range:
This species is found in New Guinea, where it is widespread, also occurring in the Aru Islands and the West Papuan Islands. It is also found in northern Australia where it is confined to the northern Cape York Peninsula, from Pormpuraaw on the west coast to Princess Charlotte Bay on the east.

Size:
These birds are 49-68 cm long and weigh 0,5-1,1 kg.

Habitat:
The palm cockatoo is found in tropical rainforests and savannas, including gallery forests, forests edges, monsoon woodlands, eucalypt and paperbark woodlands, partially cleared areas and dense savannas. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.350 m.

Diet:
They forage mostly on the forest canopy, but also on the forest floor, feeding on seeds, buds and fruits, and sometimes also insects and their larvae.

Breeding:
Palm cockatoos breed in July-May. They are monogamous and nest in large tree hollows, usually 5-10 m above the ground, choosing large trees such as palms. There the female lays a single white egg, which is incubated by both parents for 30-35 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 65-80 days after hatching. The chicks only achieve independence 4-5 months after fledging and only reach sexual maturity at 7-8 years of age.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range. The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is considered relatively common and appears to have a large overall population. The palm cockatoo is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction and unsustainable levels of exploitation, but it is not threatened at present.