Long-billed Corella

Images ©:

Long-billed Corella - Bob Winters | Long-billed Corella - Bob Winters | Long-billed Corella - Michael Seyfort | Long-billed Corella - The State of Victoria, Department of Environment and Primary Industries/McCann

Cacatua tenuirostris

Medium sized parrot, 38-41 cm. Predominantly white with a short crest, short tail and stocky body. Faint yellowish wash on the underside of the wings and tail. Pale blue eye ring.

Details
Type
Bird
Group
Animals
Cockatoo
Biology

Breeding season extends from July through to December. These birds form monogamous pairs. Nests in hollows high in tall Manna Gums or Sugar Gums or in the cavities of loose gravelly cliffs. Both parents prepare the nest and incubate 2-4 eggs for 25 days. Both parents feed the young.
Distinctive Markings

Long upper mandible to the bill. Orange-red splashes on forehead and throat and an orange crescent across the upper breast.
Taxonomy
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Psittaciformes
Family
Cacatuidae
Genus
Cacatua
Species
tenuirostris
Normally only found in the extreme south-eastern end of Australia. Reaches from south-eastern South Australia through western Victoria to southern New South Wales. However, populations have now established in other parts of eastern Australia, probably from escaped caged birds.

Source: Atlas of Living Australia

The Long-billed Corella has a short cap-like crest, however this is usually folded. Can form large noisy groups displaying acrobatic feats while climbing on external structures. Can cause damage to electrical wiring.

Interesting Facts
Diet

Omnivore. Predominantly grass seeds, particularly from grain crops. Also feeds on bulbs and roots from the weed onion grass (Romulea rosea) and Native Murnong. 90% of their food now comes from introduced food plants. Insects are also eaten.
Habitat

Grassy woodland and grasslands, pasture and crop areas and urban parks. Never far from water.
Native Status
Native to Australia
Audio
Audio samples
Sounds
Flight call is a wavering, nasal "ar - aer - ek, ar - aer - ek". When disturbed, very loud, harsh screeches.