Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo
Zanda funerea
Eastern Australia • Elegant Black Cockatoo
IUCN Status
Least Concern
The Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo (Zanda funerea) is a large, striking black cockatoo native to eastern Australia. It features glossy black plumage with bright yellow cheek patches and distinctive yellow panels in the tail. Known for its powerful flight, loud wailing calls, and strong pair bonds, this species is a specialist feeder on the seeds of banksia, hakea, and pine cones. It is slower maturing and more deliberate in its behaviour than many other cockatoos, making it a majestic and long-lived addition to experienced collections.
General Description
| Common Name | Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo |
| Latin Name | Zanda funerea |
| Family | Cacatuidae • Cockatoos |
| Adult Size | 55–65 cm (22–26 in) |
| Weight | 650–900 g |
| Life Span | 40–60+ years in captivity |
| Sexual Maturity | 5–7 years |
| Clutch Size | 1–2 eggs |
| Gender Difference | Males have bright yellow tail panels and a larger bill; females have paler yellow-orange tail panels with black barring and more yellow on the head and neck. |
| Natural Habitat | Tall eucalypt forests, woodlands, and pine plantations in southeastern Australia. |
| Origin / Range | Southeastern Australia (from southern Queensland through New South Wales to eastern Victoria and Tasmania). |
| Care Level | Advanced • Requires large aviary and specialized diet |
Zanda funerea • Adult male showing bright yellow tail panels
YELLOW-TAILED BLACK COCKATOO • ELEGANT EASTERN AUSTRALIAN SPECIES
Subspecies & Plumage
Two subspecies are recognised, differing mainly in size and the extent of yellow on the tail and head:
| Subspecies | Main Range | Key Differences |
|---|---|---|
| Z. f. funerea (Nominate) | Southeastern mainland Australia | Larger with more extensive yellow on the tail. |
| Z. f. xanthanotus | Tasmania and Bass Strait islands | Slightly smaller with more yellow on the head and neck in females. |
General Plumage Notes: The Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo has glossy black plumage with prominent yellow cheek patches and broad yellow panels in the tail. Males have brighter yellow tail panels, while females show more yellow-orange barring. It has a short crest and a powerful, curved beak adapted for cracking hard seeds and pine cones. Juveniles resemble females but are duller.
Conservation Status:
Least Concern (IUCN Red List) — CITES Appendix II
Zanda Genus
Eastern Australia & Tasmania
Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo