Scientific Name: Cacatua tenuirostris
Common Name: Long-Billed Corella
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Cacatuidae
Other Names: Corella, Cockie, cockatoo, white cockatoo
Distribution: Western Victoria and Melbourne
Habitat: Redgum woodlands, open farmland and parks
Field Notes:
Often seen in flocks, sometimes with hundreds of members;.
The birds are white, with blue skin around their eyes, and a red “slash” across their breast.
While spending some time in a local park, I took the opportunity to observe several flocks of Corellas (Long-Billed Corellas) going about their business
They were moving methodically along the ground digging with their beaks as they went.
I couldn’t see clearly what they were digging for, so I fetched some binoculars from the car, which afforded a much better view.
They were digging, sometimes two or three scoops of dirt, to obtain roots to eat. They used their tongue to scrape the muddy soil from the inside of their beaks; the outside of their beaks, and their faces, were quite muddy.
There was a slightly larger Corella, obviously the dominant member of the flock, who kept a careful eye on me, while the others foraged. He (?) often chased off one of his comrades when they seemed to find a good patch of roots.
(Sorry – no close up photos)
.
Common Name: Long-Billed Corella
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Cacatuidae
Other Names: Corella, Cockie, cockatoo, white cockatoo
Distribution: Western Victoria and Melbourne
Habitat: Redgum woodlands, open farmland and parks
Field Notes:
Often seen in flocks, sometimes with hundreds of members;.
The birds are white, with blue skin around their eyes, and a red “slash” across their breast.
While spending some time in a local park, I took the opportunity to observe several flocks of Corellas (Long-Billed Corellas) going about their business
They were moving methodically along the ground digging with their beaks as they went.
I couldn’t see clearly what they were digging for, so I fetched some binoculars from the car, which afforded a much better view.
They were digging, sometimes two or three scoops of dirt, to obtain roots to eat. They used their tongue to scrape the muddy soil from the inside of their beaks; the outside of their beaks, and their faces, were quite muddy.
There was a slightly larger Corella, obviously the dominant member of the flock, who kept a careful eye on me, while the others foraged. He (?) often chased off one of his comrades when they seemed to find a good patch of roots.
(Sorry – no close up photos)
.
Last edited:
