Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoo

I’ve done a few posts lately about winter birds in Melbourne. The other day I was walking the dog in our local park when I heard the instantly recognisable call of the Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoo (YTBC). Looking about, I spotted a group of about ten. They were busy tearing bark off some trees.

By the way, the Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoo does seem to be well named. It is a Cockatoo, which is predominantly black.  It does, however, have a tail which is mainly yellow.

I quickly nicked home and grabbed my camera, and returned to get this shot. It was a bit difficult, and I got a bit dirty crawling underneath some thickets around the back of some houses. I always half expect to be approached by suspicious residents asking why I’m creeping about with a large lens, but it’s never happened yet.

The scientific (or Latin) name for the YTBC is Calyptorhynchus funereus. I’m given to the understanding that the name funereus was chosen due to a tradition of wearing yellow with black clothing at a funeral. I’ve also heard stories that the YTBC is associated with bad luck.

It’s been my experience that the bird is more common in Melbourne in winter than other times of the year (I’ve certainly had them in my back yard). However, the scientific evidence isn’t so conclusive, and my observations aren’t that reliable! They are easier to see in other parts of the state, especially the higher altitudes.

They’re quite easy to identify, as other Black-cockatoos are rare in Victoria. You do get Red-tailed Black-cockatoos in the south-west of the state, but they’re very rare. Glossy Black-cockatoos are confined to East Gippsland. Besides, both these other birds have red, not yellow, panels in their tails. If it's in Victoria, it's proabably a YTBC.

The flight pattern of the YTBC is very distinctive. A mate once described them as “flopping along”. It’s a fluid, languid, kind of flight with slow, heavy wingbeats. They’re very relaxing just to watch.

But without a doubt, my favourite part about the bird is its call. They cry “weird weird!” in their screechy voices. Not only is it distinctive, but it’s one of the sounds I associate with being in the hills.