A striking and rare parrot species found only in the forests of southwestern Australia. At first glance, it looks very similar to its close relatives, the Carnaby’s black cockatoo and the red-tailed black cockatoo, but it has a very special feature that makes it unique—its extraordinarily long, slender upper bill. This “parrot tweezers” is perfectly adapted for pulling seeds from tough Australian plants, especially the marri tree. While other cockatoos may struggle to pry seeds from these hard gum nuts, Baudin’s black cockatoo can slip its long bill inside, expertly extracting the kernels. This adaptation sets it apart not only from other cockatoos but also from nearly all parrots worldwide.

In terms of appearance, Baudin’s black cockatoo is a large, mostly black bird, with soft white panels in its tail and small white patches on its cheeks. Males have dark beaks, while females have lighter ones, making it possible to tell them apart. Despite their size, they have a graceful presence, with slow, deliberate wingbeats and a distinctive, rolling call that echoes through the forests. Unlike the noisy flocks of galahs or corellas, Baudin’s cockatoos are a bit more reserved, often traveling in small family groups or loose flocks.

One of the things that makes this bird stand out behaviorally is its close relationship with marri trees. These cockatoos are specialists: they depend heavily on the seeds of marri and other eucalypts, as well as banksias and hakeas. They use their long bills not just for feeding but also for carefully slicing into seed pods, leaving behind characteristic marks that scientists and birdwatchers can use to identify their feeding sites. Unfortunately, this specialization also makes them vulnerable—if marri trees are cleared or fragmented, the cockatoos lose a major food source.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Australia

3,250

Official estimate

CR

2021