The Black Palm Cockatoo astonished everyone with its mysterious beauty. That is why everyone wants to learn more about it. I felt the same way when I saw them first time and becomes interested in it.
Their attractive looks and unique features got my attention right away. As far as, we learned more you found that these birds are the largest cockatoos with interesting personalities to match their appearance.
In this guide, you will learn and understand about these amazing birds like how to recognize them and how to take care of them. Get ready to explore about extremely interesting world of the Black Palm Cockatoo.
Black Palm Cockatoo – Overview
| Feature | Black Palm Cockatoo |
| Scientific Name | Probosciger aterrimus |
| Other Names | Palm Cockatoo, Goliath Cockatoo, Great Black Cockatoo |
| Color | Black feathers with red cheek patches |
| Habitat | Live in Tropical forests of Australia and New Guinea |
| Diet | Seeds, nuts, fruits |
| Size | About 55–60 cm long |
| Special Feature | Uses sticks to drum on trees |
| Lifespan | Up to 50–60 years |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened |
Black Palm Cockatoo Origin & History
The black palm cockatoo originally comes from Australia specifically the tip of northern Queensland. They also found in New Guinea and Indonesia.
Also Read: Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoo: Lifespan, Diet, Habitat, Size, & Facts
These birds usually live in the rainforest and woodlands and nest in hollow trees. They generally found in small groups of six or less.
These birds mate for life. Although they are decreasing in population but they are not currently endangered.
Black Palm Cockatoo Characteristics
The Black Palm Cockatoo is really an astonishing bird of nature. Their shiny black feathers get bright red patches on their cheeks and a strong black beak.
They have white rings around their eyes and a big size of 22-24 inches (55-60 cm) makes them look truly impressive to see.
Black Palm Cockatoo Colors & Markings
The unique looks and features like bright color and markings of the black palm cockatoo are eye-catching. All the feathers and patterns are shiny black and bright red patches on its cheeks adds to their impressive beautiful look.
Also Read: Slender Billed Cockatoo and its Lifespan, Diet, Care, Price, & Facts
These beautiful birds have the beautiful grey feathers on their tails that also adds to their beauty. Their big beak, bare cheeks and expressive eyes makes them unique to recognize easily among the birds world.
Moreover when you see this bird in real life their beak really stands out against their black feathers makes them look very striking.
Black Palm Cockatoo Diet/Feeding
Wild Palm Cockatoos eat many different kinds of food. They mainly like to eat hard nuts and seeds such as pandanus nuts and canarium seeds. Which they crack open with their strong beak.
Fruits, berries and small insects also includes in their daily diet. When it is hard to find the food they eat young leaf and flowers on several times. The habit of eating and spreading helps to grow new trees in the forest.
Their strong beak work like as natural nutcrackers. You can often see them holding food in one foot while breaking it open exactly. They pull out the food with their clever tongues. These birds need water regularly mainly in dry weather. Moreover they can also drink water from the tree hollows during the season of rain.
Black Palm Cockatoos most of the time eats early in the morning and late afternoon. They do rest under the tree shade during the hot middle of the day. This schedule helps them to stay safe from predators and avoid the strong sun.
Black Palm Cockatoo Temperament & Behavior
Black palm cockatoos are intelligent and beautiful birds.
If they well trained from a young age on regular basis they can become friendly and well-behaved.
Black Palm Cockatoo Health Concerns
Black Palm Cockatoos can have health problems like beak and feather disease that harms their feathers and weaken their immune system. They can also become overweight if they over eat and get less exercise.
Also Read: Long Billed Corella and its Lifespan, Diet, Care, and Facts
Regular visit to a bird vet is necessary to cure the health issues at an early stage. If they get a balanced diet and keep watching on their weight can prevent them from these diseases.
Regular grooming keeps their feather healthy and it also helps to spot any problem early. Giving them mental stimulation keeps them stress free and important for their overall health.
Black Palm Cockatoo vs. Other Cockatoo Species
Of course! You can compare Black Palm Cockatoos with other breeds of cockatoo parrots like as Sulphur-crested and the Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo.
Their striking black feather and unique looks make them different. Although all species are special; but Black Palm Cockatoo stands out for its elegance and beauty.
How Do You Care the Black Palm Cockatoo?
These birds can handle different temperatures but their enclosure should never go below freezing. The best size of cage according to australasianzookeeping.org should be about 2.6 m W X 4m L X 2.6m H (8.5X13X8.5 feet). The cage bars should be 1 inch (2.54 cm) apart and the cage should be very strong because these birds have strong beak.
Also Read: Blue Eyed Cockatoo and its Lifespan, Size, Care, Diet, and Facts
You may need to trim their nails and beak if they don’t have to chew the hard nuts like pandanus nuts. These birds like to take bath so they should be allow to get wet often. These parrots lose one to two feathers at a time as molting happens slowly.
They should get good-quality pelleted diet with at least half of their total food including fruits, vegetables and nuts. The nuts from their natural environment very helpful to keeps their beak healthy.
Ladders, perches and play stands are good for these big birds to exercise and makes them healthy and avoid getting overweight. Breeding is hard because these birds only lay one egg in two years. Along with losing their natural homes the population of these birds in the wild is at risk.
Black Palm Cockatoo Price/Cost
The cost of a Black Palm Cocakatoo can be between 1,000$ and 2,000$. It will be good to buy these birds when they are 3 months old and have already been socialized.
Black Palm Cockatoo Interesting Facts
There is a unique drumming ritual of these birds during the season of mating. Male parrots break a stick from tree and drum it on a hollowed bark of another tree.
Mating usually happens within these hollows. Females judge the quality of these hollows and choose her mate based on it.
A Black palm cockatoo can mimic the human sounds and can say “hello” surprisingly like a human.
Their beak is very big especially the upper part because of that the top and bottom parts don’t meet for most of their length.
They stay only with one partner for their whole life.
In a Austrailian zoo kept a palm cockatoo has been recorded living for more than 80 years.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What is the Lifespan of Black Palm Cockatoo?
Black Palm Cockatoos usually do live a very long life. If they get proper care and balanced diet they can live up to 50 years. That is why it’s a big responsibility having them as a pet for a long term.
Are Black Palm Cockatoos Endangered?
Yes! They are in danger just because people cuts down the forests and take them illegally. We should protect them to keep them safe.
Can They be Kept as Pets?
No doubt! Black Palm Cockatoos are beautiful. But it is not easy to keep them as a pet. These are smart birds so they need lots of care, space and attention from an experienced owner. Because they live a long life with special needs so that people should think very carefully before getting one.
What Do Black Palm Cockatoos Eat?
Black Palm Cockatoos likes to eat basically seeds, nuts, fruits and berries. They especially like the seeds from the cones of some special tree species. They easily crack and open the hard shells easily to get their food with their strong beak.
Final Thoughts
The Black Palm Cockatoo is really a beautiful creation of nature. They get the attention of people all over the world with their intelligence, beauty and unique behaviors. There are very few animals that show their beauty with character.
Also Read: Galah Cockatoo and its Lifespan, Size, Diet, Price, & Facts
As environmental issues are growing and it is more important than ever to protect these birds. They can only survive if there forest homes are saved. Every tree that is cut down means fewer places for them to nest in the future.
A proper research, preparation and a willingness to provide ongoing care and interaction are important for a happy and healthy pet-owner relationship.
Do you have any experience, tips, tricks, or query regarding this issue? You can drop a comment Facebook, Instagram or just here!
Have a Nice Day!
