Palm Cockatoo

## About

A palm cockatoo perched on a dead tree.

The palm cockatoo ***(Probosciger aterrimus)*** native to the northern parts of Australia and regions of Papua New Guinea. This is the largest cockatoo specie on the planet and the largest parrot in Oceania. Palm cockatoos are known for their distinctive blue and black colouration found all over their body and their trademark crown like crest. Palm cockatoos also a red pigment around their eyes and parts of their beak. This bird can reach up to 55-60cm (21-23in) and weigh up to 910-1,200g (32-42.3oz), palm cockatoos are unusually light for their size compared to the Kākāpō ***(Strigops habroptilus)*** weighing 2–4kg (4.4-8.8lbs) according to Animalia.bio. These birds also posses one of the largest and strongest beaks of any known parrot species, making it possible for these birds to crack open walnuts using their tough bristly tongues and hard beaks. Palm cockatoos get their name from thriving in tropic regions their whole lives. This brings the cockatoos to predominately live alongside palm trees and eat the coconuts that grow prolifically on them. They perform this by using their intelligence by picking up to coconuts and dropping them from a high place. The lifespan of the palm cockatoo is sixteen years with birds under the age of 18 months having yellow tipped beak and the ring around the eye is white. Seen only when flying a 1.65m (5.41ft) wingspan as well as the palm cockatoo's yellow lining under their feathers.

## Diet

Their diet is very diverse and can vary but they are primarily granivores, though from time to time they may consume larvae and insects if needed. These birds consume high quantities of fruits leaf buds and seeds. Using their high intelligence they have also taught themselves to use their strong beaks and tongue to bust open walnuts extremely effectively. Palm cockatoos also will indulge in coconuts via cracking them open, which has also proven to be a hazard to neighbouring humans.

## Conservation status

The IUCN has recently reassessed the palm cockatoo as near-threatened, due to deforestation, habitat fragmentation and natural disasters such as seasonal fires and cyclones. With the March, 2023 reassessment, the IUCN estimated the palm cockatoo's population at 260,000-640,000 mature individuals. Nest unavailability as a result of logging and deforesting appear to be of great concern as the species requires specific tree hollows and unique conditions to harbour and raise offspring. Bauxite mining also contributes to nest unavailability. Another key factor to their population decrease is of course climate change as they cannot survive in other regions to were they inhabit originally.

## Range and Population

    The range of the palm cockatoo extends from the dense forested regions of Australia and New Guinea to the most northern tropical regions of these two islands. As mentioned before the current estimated population of these birds is only 3,000 and decreasing making them at a vulnerable state in terms of conservation. Though when pushed out of their habitat these birds have the ability to inhabit Savannah if needed and live of a smaller diet. They adopt many regions of rainforest from woodlands to tropics depending on their breeding habits and patterns.

## Behaviour

    Palm cockatoos are found alone, in pairs, or in larger groups and very territorial meaning they enjoy living any lifestyle they desire and like it undisturbed by other species. These birds follow a similar pattern as they will follow food and water when needed and will go to any measure to find the location with best resource. These birds are a lot more of a passive bird compared to other cockatoos as they are a sentinel type of bird meaning they have one bird allocated to alert the rest of the flock about predators or any threat making them very efficient in migration. These birds spend lots of their days around a safe water and food source whilst early routine in their groups in the morning. These birds often also use rain as a way to spend their time hanging from trees upside down with other members of the flock stretching and cleaning themselves (credit - Animalia.bio).

### Relationship with Humans

Palm cockatoos are infrequently trapped and sold in the pet trade for the appeal of their exotic nature and intelligence in particular. Illegal trapping of the species may only increase as road infrastructure developments and habitat is depleted. Palm cockatoos are also locally killed by indigenous groups for ornamental purposes as well as for food.

## In Captivity

According to Zoo Institutes, there are many zoos located in Russia and Israel such as the Tel Aviv Zoo that actually house the palm cockatoo. However in Oceania the only zoo that houses the palm cockatoo is the Adelaide Zoo in South Australia. This is also one of the only zoos to have experienced the first birth of a Palm Cockatoo in Australia since 1973.

## Sources

* Palm Cockatoo | Animalia.bio - https://animalia.bio/palm-cockatoo
* IUCN Red List of Threatened Species - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22684723/93043662
* Palm Cockatoo | Zoo Institutes - https://zooinstitutes.com/exhibits/318.html
* Adelaide Zoo - https://www.adelaidezoo.com.au/