Glossy black cockatoo
| Glossy Black Cockatoo | |
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| Species: | C. lathami
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| Calyptorhynchus lathami | |
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C. (C.) l. lathami | |
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| Glossy Black Cockatoo range (in red) | |
The Glossy Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami), also known as the Casuarina Black Cockatoo after one of their preferred food items, is the smallest member of the subfamily Calyptorhynchinae found in Australia.
The scientific name honours the English ornithologist John Latham.
Description
Glossy Black Cockatoos are predominantly black/dark brown with striking caudal red patches. Female birds are duller in colour, with flecks of yellow in the tail and collar. An adult will grow to be about 46-50cm in length. The birds are often found in open forest and woodlands, and usually feed on seeds of the Casuarina.
Subspecies
The three subspecies were proposed by Schodde et. al. in 1993,[1] though Forshaw has reservations due to their extremely minimal differences.[2]
- C. l. lathami: (Rare) The eastern subspecies found between southeastern Queensland and Mallacoota in Victoria, with isolated pockets in Eungella in central Queensland and the Riverina and Pilliga forest.[3] It is associated with casuarina woodland.
- C. l. erebus Occurs in central Queensland.[1]
- C. l. halmaturinus: (Endangered) The Kangaroo Island) subspecies has been listed by the Australian Government as endangered. Restricted to the northern and western parts of the island, the population may be as low as 100 individuals. It depends on the Drooping
she-oak (Allocasuarina verticillata) and the Sugar Gum (Eucalyptus cladocalyx)[4]
External links
References
- ^ a b Schodde R, Mason IJ & Wood JT. (1993). Geographical differentiation in the Glossy Black Cockatoo Calytorhynchus lathami (Temminck), and its history. Emu 93: 156-166
- ^ Forshaw, Joseph M. & Cooper, William T. (2002): Australian Parrots (3rd ed). Press, Willoughby, Australia. ISBN 0-9581212-0-6
- ^ Blakers M, Davies SJJF, Reilly PN (1984) The Atlas of Australian Birds. RAOU and Melbourne University press, Melbourne.
- ^ Joseph L (1982) The Glossy Black Cockatoo on Kangaroo Island Emu 82 46-49
- Template:IUCN2006 Database entry includes a lengthy justification of why this species is of least concern
- Flegg, Jim. Birds of Australia: Photographic Field Guide Sydney: Reed New Holland, 2002. (ISBN 1-876334-78-9)
- Garnett, S. (1993) Threatened and Extinct Birds Of Australia. RAOU. National Library, Canberra. ISSN 0812-8014