The Majestic Goliath: Palm Cockatoos Revealed

Intro

Palm cockatoos are a spectacular and unique species of bird. Fondly named the Ringo Starr of the bird world because of their drumming ability which will impress both human and bird alike.

They are also known as the Cape York Cockatoo, Great Palm Cockatoo, Great Black Cockatoo or the Goliath Cockatoo. And giant they are, being the largest cockatoo species in the world.

Palm Cockatoos are found in Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, as well as Papua New Guinea and the Aru Islands of eastern Indonesia.

Description

Palm Cockatoos are intelligent and social creatures, and in captivity require a lot of attention from their owners – not that we recommend caging these beautiful creatures who are much happier flying above the lush canopies of the tropics. They are one of the best talkers of the cockatoo family and have a distinctive sound which can easily be mistaken for a ‘hello’.

They have a large, curved beak which doesn’t close completely making it easy for them to crush food. They eat berries, nuts, fruit, seeds and leaf buds.

An adult Palm Cockatoo will have a height of 50-68cm, and will weigh 500-1100grams. The wing length will be around 35cm, and the tail is around 24cm long. The female birds are slightly smaller than the males.

The Palm Cockatoo has a crest which can extend 15cm high. When excited or alarmed the crest is raised increasing the height of the bird and making them appear a formidable opponent to any enemy.

The Palm Cockatoo’s red cheeks can change colour depending on their mood, stress and health of the bird. They can change to pink or beige if the bird feels stressed or aggressive, or they can become yellow with excitement.

Fun Facts

Palm Cockatoos, in Ringo Starr fashion, are great drummers. They are the only bird who uses a tool to create a rhythmic beat for territorial and courtship purposes. Each male has a preferred type of drumstick they craft; some use seed pods, others choose either a short or long stick to whittle into their unique style. This method is then passed onto their sons.

Cockatoos are generally a long living species, but no definitive records are available for the Palm Cockatoo. The longest recorded bird turned fifty-six in 2000 at the London Zoo (1), and there’s anecdotal evidence of a bird living to ninety in captivity, but it’s believed that in the wild they live between 40-60 years.

Palm Cockatoos tend to mate for life, and they need large hollows in tall old tees to reproduce. A bed of wood chips and small sticks is made in the hollow which can be a metre down the vertical tree trunk. The couple will not breed prolifically and only one egg is hatched at a time.

Colonial engraving of the palm cockatoo. C1884 R.H. Moore.

Status

Sadly, it’s estimated that there are only 2000 Palm Cockatoos left in the wild, and they aren’t reproducing enough to replace themselves. The palm cockatoo is listed as ‘vulnerable’ under Australia’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, and as ‘endangered’ in Queensland. In December 2023 the palm cockatoo was uplisted from least concern to near threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.

What’s being done

Palm cockatoos have the lowest breeding success of any parrot in the world and it’s essential that government act now to avoid this beautiful bird being added to the extinction list.

In March 2024 the Miles government allocated a pitiful $730,000 to fund nine research projects for threatened species in Queensland. $67,000 of this has been allocated to People For Wildlife for their research, observation and monitoring of palm cockatoos nests. (2)

Palm Cockatoos in the wild.

What we can do

Australia has lost over one hundred species to extinction over the last 200 years. In March 2021 the Australian Government added another thirteen species to the extinct list.

To stop this tragic loss you can raise awareness among your friends and family. Encourage a respect of the Australian wilderness, both plants and animals. Write to state and federal departments stating your concern and if possible, get involved in local wildlife preservation groups.

Australia has some of the most unique flora and fauna on the planet. It’s our responsibility to ensure the future looks bright for the Palm Cockatoo as well as every other creature living here, no matter how great or small!