Birds and Birding's Guide to:

Watching THE CUCKOO-LIKE BIRDS

THE PARROTS

Raven Cockatoos

Standing next to this, but distinguished at once by having feathered cheeks, is a group (Calyplorhynchus) of seven exclusively Australian species that may be known collectively as the Raven Cockatoos on account of their brownish and blackish coloration. In all the tail is rather long, with the outer tail-feathers shorter than the others, and crossed by a broad transverse band of lighter color. The members of this genus, according to Gould, are strictly arboreal and are evidently adapted to live upon the seeds of the Eucalypti, the honeysuckle trees (Banksia), and other trees peculiar to the country they inhabit; but they diversify their food by occasionally devouring large caterpillars.

They can scarcely be considered gregarious, but move about in small companies. Their flight is rather powerful, but at the same time labored and heavy; and their voice is a low crying call totally different from the harsh screaming notes of the typical Cockatoos. Although all are objects of more or less interest, we have space for brief mention of but one, and this may well be the Banksian Cockatoo (C. banksi) of East and South Australia.

The male has the entire plumage glossy greenish black, with a broad band of deep rich vermilion across the middle of all but the two central tail-feathers, while the female is similar, but has the head, sides of the neck, and wing-coverts pale yellow and the lower surface is narrowly barred with the same; the length is twenty-four inches.

They are suspicious, shy birds, difficult of approach, and usually seen singly or in small flocks feeding among the honeysuckle and eucalyptus trees; their note is a loud, hoarse call. Their two or three eggs are placed in holes usually very high up in the eucalyptus trees.

 

 

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