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Cockatoos

Cockatoos are parrots with strong curved bills, grasping feet and movable head crests. White, black, grey and pink body colours occur, while cheek patches, tail panels and bill proportions separate species that otherwise share a familiar crested outline. Examples include Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo (Zanda funerea), Red-tailed Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii), and Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus). Seeds, nuts, roots and other plant foods are important, with feeding methods differing between ground and tree foragers. Bill size and tail shape remain useful features of a resting cockatoo when its mobile crest lies flat.

How to recognize Cockatoos

  • Check the movable crest and strongly curved parrot bill.
  • Compare cheek colour and contrasting panels in the tail.
  • Notice bill size and whether birds feed in trees or on the ground.

Where they live

The family occurs in Australia, New Guinea and nearby islands, extending into parts of Southeast Asia. Forest, woodland, savanna and some open or settled landscapes support different species. Large old trees supply nest cavities for many, while feeding flocks may travel considerable distances to grassland, crops or seasonally productive woodland. A feeding flock in open country may still depend on wooded nesting or roosting sites elsewhere in the landscape.

Species accounts: Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo · Red-tailed Black Cockatoo · Cockatiel

Sources — natural history: Wikipedia: Cockatoos · Cornell Birds of the World: Red-tailed Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii), species natural history.

Classification: IOC World Bird List: family names and classification.

Some Cornell Birds of the World account sections require a subscription.

Updated 2026-11-06. Species counts follow this site's catalogue. This is an editorial summary, not an expert peer review.

Explore similarities in appearance, feeding and habitat. These comparisons do not necessarily indicate the closest evolutionary relatives.

Species records retain their original English, Chinese and scientific names.

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Yellow-tailed Black CockatooYellow-tailed Black CockatooZanda funereaBaudin's Black CockatooBaudin's Black CockatooZanda baudiniiCarnaby's Black CockatooCarnaby's Black CockatooZanda latirostrisRed-tailed Black CockatooRed-tailed Black CockatooCalyptorhynchus banksiiGlossy Black CockatooGlossy Black CockatooCalyptorhynchus lathamiCockatielCockatielNymphicus hollandicusPalm CockatooPalm CockatooProbosciger aterrimusGang-gang CockatooGang-gang CockatooCallocephalon fimbriatumGalahGalahEolophus roseicapillaPink CockatooPink CockatooCacatua leadbeateriRed-vented CockatooRed-vented CockatooCacatua haematuropygiaTanimbar CorellaTanimbar CorellaCacatua goffinianaSolomons CorellaSolomons CorellaCacatua ducorpsiiWestern CorellaWestern CorellaCacatua pastinatorLittle CorellaLittle CorellaCacatua sanguineaLong-billed CorellaLong-billed CorellaCacatua tenuirostrisWhite CockatooWhite CockatooCacatua albaBlue-eyed CockatooBlue-eyed CockatooCacatua ophthalmicaSalmon-crested CockatooSalmon-crested CockatooCacatua moluccensisYellow-crested CockatooYellow-crested CockatooCacatua sulphureaCitron-crested CockatooCitron-crested CockatooCacatua citrinocristataSulphur-crested CockatooSulphur-crested CockatooCacatua galerita