Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo

Natural Shelter

Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos pair for life nest in tree hollows of old gum trees. Keep and maintain mature trees in your garden as they provide habitat and shelter for local parrots.

Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos roost together in small flocks or family groups in tall trees in the middle of the day and late in the evening. They can spend hours in large suitable trees to rest, play, and search for food.

Novel Shelter

We recommend speaking with your local government, Birdlife Australia, or local NRM group regarding the installation and maintenance of a nest box for black cockatoos.

Providing natural sources of food

Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos eat seeds, fruits, flowers, and insect larvae. They spend most of their time feeding in the canopy of large gum trees. Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos descend to the ground to forage for seed and fallen fruits.

Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos are fond of large gum trees including Marri, Jarrah, and Tuart. They are known to feed on exotic plants including jacaranda, almond, pine, and macadamia trees.

Gardens with native grasses, groundcovers, and shrubs including grevillea, banksia, hakea, and wattles can provide foraging habitat for native parrots. Large trees can provide additional foraging habitat and refuge around the garden.

It is not recommended to offer birdseed to wild parrots. This can impact their health, attract pest species, and spread weeds around the neighbourhood. Visit Birdlife Australia if you are still interested in feeding native parrots.

Providing sources of water

Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos prefer to live close to water and visit bird baths regularly.