Yellow-Tailed Black-Cockatoo

Male Yellow-Tailed Black-Cockatoo. While inside my home, I heard the mournful melodic calls of many Yellow-Tailed Black-Cockatoos. They don’t often fly over my home, so I excitedly grabbed my camera and ran outside. There was a flock of them flying between trees looking for food. I took this picture of a male cockatoo flying overhead, with its feathers and distinctive yellow cheek illuminated by the setting sun.

Physical Appearance

The Yellow-Tailed Black-Cockatoo is a striking bird with a predominantly black body and yellow markings on its cheeks and tail. 
Adult males have a grey or black beak which darkens with age, pinkish eye-rings and pale-yellow cheek patches.
Females are similar but have dark grey eye-rings, an off-white beak, and larger more vibrant yellow cheek patches. 

Habitat

These majestic birds live in a variety of habitats across southeastern Australia, including forests, woodlands, and coastal heathlands. They can also adapt to urban environments with large, mature trees.

Behaviour

Diet: Yellow-Tailed Black-Cockatoos feed primarily on seeds, nuts, and wood-boring insects. They often strip bark from trees to find grubs or crack open cones from banksia and pine trees. Their strong, curved beaks are perfectly adapted for their diet.
Social Nature: These cockatoos are social and often seen in small flocks, although larger groups may gather in areas with plentiful food.
Flight and Calls: Known for their slow, leisurely wingbeats, these cockatoos emit a loud, sad, wailing call that is often heard before they are seen.

Breeding

Nesting: Yellow-Tailed Black-Cockatoos nest in large, hollow trees, usually in eucalyptus forests. The female lays 1-2 eggs and incubates them while the male provides food and guards the area. Usually, only one chick will survive, which will stay in the care of its parents for around six months after fledging.
Breeding Period: Breeding period varies greatly depending on the region and availability of food resources.