Food and Movements of the Short-Billed Form of the White-Tailed Black Cockatoo.

Abstract

Food eaten by the short-billed form of the white-tailed black cockatoo, Calyptorhynchus funereus latirostris, was studied in 2 areas in which it breeds; Coomallo Creek, an area with large tracts of uncleared land and Manmanning, an area of extensive clearing with little native vegetation remaining. In both areas the birds relied on native vegetation, particularly the seeds of the Proteaceae, for food. Coomallo Creek appeared to have an adequate food supply whereas Manmanning, with little remaining native vegetation did not. During the non-breeding season, birds from Coomallo Creek wandered locally within 50 km of the breeding area, feeding on native vegetation, relying on seeds of the marri, Eucalyptus calophylla, and the Proteaceae. Birds from Manmanning migrate to the coast where they feed on seeds of the Proteaceae, marri and Pinus spp. which grow in large plantations on the coastal plain.