Tag Archives: Cockatoo

Ian’s Bird of the Week – Red-capped Parrot

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Red-capped Parrot (Purpureicephalus spurius) by Ian

Ian’s Bird of the Week – Red-capped Parrot ~ by Ian Montgomery

Newsletter ~ 3/15/14

I’ve had a request for a Western Australian endemic from an American friend who is visiting WA this coming September. So here, Laurie, is the Red-capped Parrot which you should see there. The first photo shows a male of this fairly large (length to 38cm/15in), brightly coloured – some would say gaudy – parrot, which is reasonably common in suitable habitat in a relatively small area of southwestern Australia, mainly south of Perth, west of Esperance and within 100km of the coast.

The second photo shows a female, similar to but more subdued in colour than the male, with greenish patches in the red cap and under-tail coverts and less intense violet breast.

Red-capped Parrot (Purpureicephalus spurius) by Ian female

The female is perched in a Marri tree, a Western Australian bloodwood, Corymbia, formerly Eucapyptus, calphylla. This is the main food plant of the parrot and their ranges mostly coincide. Marri has tough woody globular nuts and the long pointed bill of the Red-capped Parrot is adapted to exploiting the one weakness in the nut defences – the valve through which the seed is shed. The parrots can prise out the seed without having to gnaw through the woody wall.

It’s clearly a fine source of bird food, as another Western Australian endemic Baudin’s or the Long-billed Cockatoo has evolved along identical lines for the same reason -an elegant example of parallel evolution. The male cockatoo in the third photo is showing us exactly how it’s done: piece of cake really, given the right equipment. Not surprisingly the range of this cockatoo is similar to that of the parrot.

Long-billed Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus baudinii) by Ian

Actually, this bird featured as bird of the week in November 2006, but this is, if a repeat, at least a different photo. The first and third photos were taken on the same day. Kalgan is east of Albany on the way to the famous-for-birding Two Peoples Bay and Dunsborough is west of Bussleton near Cape Leeuwin. Cape Leeuwin has this splendid lighthouse built in 1895 and marks the point where the Indian Ocean meets the Southern Ocean.

Cape Leeuwin by Ian

I did take this one photo of the lighthouse on the same day, but my clearest memory is of a Rock Parrot feeding on the ground near it, but that bird featured as bird of the week in October 2006: http://www.birdway.com.au/psittacidae/rock_parrot/index.htm: a good day for unusual parrots.

Greetings
Ian

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Ian Montgomery, Birdway Pty Ltd,
454 Forestry Road, Bluewater, Qld 4818
Tel 0411 602 737 ian@birdway.com.au
Bird Photos http://www.birdway.com.au/
Recorder Society http://www.nqrs.org.au

Lee’s Addition:

And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” (Genesis 1:22 NKJV)

What a beautifully created Parrot. As you may know, Ian allows me to reproduce his newsletter. I use these to introduce us to the fantastic birds around the world. He has great photos on his site.

(This blog is birdwatching from a Christian perspective and therefore I do not believe in evolution, but realize birds have reproduced, producing different variations withing the families and orders. They are all still birds though.)

See:

Ian’s Bird of the Week

Parrot Family – Ian’s

Psittacidae – Parrots Family

Cockatoo Family – Ian’s

Cacatuidae – Cockatoos Family

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Cincinnati Zoo III

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Major Mitchell's Cockatoo (Lophochroa leadbeateri) at Cincinnati Zoo 9-5-13

Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo (Lophochroa leadbeateri) at Cincinnati Zoo by Lee

I know and am acquainted with all the birds of the mountains, and the wild animals of the field are Mine and are with Me, in My mind. (Psalms 50:11 AMP)

Here are more members of the Psittaciformes Order of Parrots and Cockatoos we saw during our trip to the Cincinnati Zoo in Ohio.

They were in various areas of the Zoo. The Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo was outside enjoying himself or herself, whichever it was. The perch was in a nicely landscaped area near the entrance/exit, depending on which way you went through the zoo. For us, it was the last member of its family we saw.

Major Mitchell's Cockatoo (Lophochroa leadbeateri) at Cincinnati Zoo 9-5-13

Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo (Lophochroa leadbeateri) by Lee

These beautiful birds are from Australia and are on the decline. They look very similar to the Galah we photographed at the Brevard Zoo, but have a lighter pink color. Both are members of the Cacatuidae – Cockatoos Family and are closely related, even nesting in the same area. There has been on occasion where the two species have interbred and produced hybridised offspring.

Major Mitchell's Cockatoo (Lophochroa leadbeateri) at Cincinnati Zoo 9-5-13 by Dan

Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo (Lophochroa leadbeateri) by Dan

Their biggest difference is the crest that the Major Mitchell likes to pop up. Our bird didn’t show off, but Ian’s photo shows the crest raised.

Major Mitchell's Cockatoo (Lophochroa leadbeateri) By Ian

Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo (Lophochroa leadbeateri) By Ian

In the Lorikeet Landing area, we encountered the Black-capped Lory (Lorius lory) who also lives near Australia in New Guinea. “It is a colorful and relatively robust lory (31 cm). There are seven subspecies, all with green wings, red heads and body around the wing, a black cap, grey-black cere, yellow underwings, and blue legs and belly. Most also have a blue nape and mantle (area between wings on the back). It remains overall widespread and common

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Black-capped Lory (Lorius lory) Cincinnati Zoo 9-5-13 by Lee

Black-capped Lory (Lorius lory) by Lee

The Black-capped Lory inhabits the primary forest and forest edges in most lowland areas up to 1000m (sporadically to 1750m), but not monsoon forest or coconut plantations. It is usually found in pairs and occasionally in groups of 10 or more. Their diet includes pollen, nectar, flowers, fruit and insects.

Black-capped Lory Sign

Black-capped Lory Sign

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Black-capped Lory (Lorius lory) Cincinnati Zoo 9-5-13 by Lee

Black-capped Lory (Lorius lory) by Lee

(Information for Wikipedia and other Internet sources)

See:

** PS – This is a little short, but I had surgery on my neck yesterday. (Removed a cancer cell.)

Just Back From A Birdwatching Adventure – Viera

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Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla) Cockatoo - Brevard Zoo

Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla) Cockatoo - Brevard Zoo

Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty. (Job 40:10 KJV)

Dan and I took off yesterday and drove to Viera, Florida, which is about 30 miles south of Titusville. We birded Viera Wetlands, which is a prime birding spot in Florida, yesterday and then for awhile this morning. After that we went to the Brevard Zoo for about 3 hours and then drove back home this afternoon. It is 101 miles over there and only takes about 1 1/2 hours to drive it. It is interstate or toll road all the way.

That trip is the reason there has not been a blog posted in the last few days. I now have over 140 email messages to go through and 800 photos to sort.

Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla) and Dan

Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla) and Dan

Just as something to share, today at the Zoo, a Galah, in the Cockatoo family, hopped up on Dan’s camera and I was able to take a couple of neat photos I want to share. Ian has photos of the Galah and I was anxious to see one. I never dreamed that we would get this close to one. I even rubbed it’s head for awhile. Wow! What beauty and colors the Lord has given His Creation.

Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla) and Dan

Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla) and Dan

The Galah is in the Cacatuidae – Cockatoos Family.

“The Galah ( /ɡəˈlɑː/), Eolophus roseicapilla, also known as the Rose-breasted Cockatoo, Galah Cockatoo, Roseate Cockatoo or Pink and Grey, is one of the most common and widespread cockatoos, and it can be found in open country in almost all parts of mainland Australia.

Galah and Lee - Brevard Zoo

Galah and Lee - Brevard Zoo

It is endemic on the mainland and was introduced to Tasmania, where its distinctive pink and grey plumage and its bold and loud behaviour make it a familiar sight in the bush and increasingly in urban areas. It appears to have benefited from the change in the landscape since European colonisation and may be replacing the Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo in parts of its range.
The term galah is derived from gilaa, a word found in Yuwaalaraay and neighbouring Aboriginal languages.” (Wikipedia)

More of the trip in future posts.

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Ian’s Bird of the Week – Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

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Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita) by Ian

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita) by Ian

Newsletter – 11/5/2009

This one should perhaps be called Book of the Week, as my choice of species is to mark the release by Dorling Kindersley Australia of ‘BIRD Australia’ and I’m celebrating because they used more than 200 of my photos. Dorling Kindersley is part of Penguin Group and specializes in richly illustrated reference works. If you were on this list 2 years ago (20 November 2007), you would have received a Gibberbird photo and news of the publication of the original UK edition ‘BIRD The Definitive Visual Guide’, which included more than 100 of my photos.

The first photo of the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, in light of the setting sun, appears as a double page spread in ‘BIRD Australia’. I’m biased, of course, and think it is a splendid book, so I’ll quote the objective Graeme Hamilton, CEO of Birds Australia (the organization not the book), who says in the foreword: “BIRD Australia superbly illustrates the astonishing diversity of Australian birds . . .”. Christmas is coming so check it out: http://www.penguin.com.au/lookinside/spotlight.cfm?SBN=9781740336994&Page=details .

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita) by Ian

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita) by Ian

The first photo was taken in December 2005 from an apartment in Potts Point. The apartment belongs to friends of mine and I regularly stay there when visiting Sydney. Sulphur-crested Cockatoos are visitors there too and sometimes come up from the Domain to perch on the balcony.

When I took that photo, I later regretted not using a smaller aperture to improve the depth of field and make the background icons sharper. It’s one of the rules of bird photography that you (almost) never get the same opportunity twice. Rules are made to be broken, and the Cockatoos reappeared when I was visiting Sydney in March of this year. This time it was a wet and windy day, and the ruffled feathers and crest of the Cockatoo in the second photo seemed to me to be mimicking the sails on the Opera House.

Recent additions to the website include more photos from the northern trip:

Black-tailed Treecreeper
Pied Heron
Blue-faced Honeyeater
Red-headed Honeyeater
Bar-breasted Honeyeater
Crested Pigeon
Eastern Osprey

Best wishes,
Ian

Preferred Email: ian@birdway.com.au
Website: http://birdway.com.au

Lee’s Addition:

Talk about a “bad hair day” (feather day in this case)! What a beautiful bird! Many of these birds have been tamed and make nice pets, though I think they should be free to roam. You can enjoy more of Ian’s Sulphur-crested Cockatoo photos (Click here), All photos of Ian’s (Australian) Cockatoos & Allies – [Family: Cacatuidae]

For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. (James 3:7 NKJV)

Cockatoos are in the Psittaciformes Order which includes  Cacatuidae family of Cockatoos, the Strigopidae family of New Zealand Parrots and the Psittacidae’s, which are all the rest of the Parrots and their allies.

“A cockatoo is any of the 21 species belonging to the bird family Cacatuidae. Along with the Psittacidae (the true parrots) and the Strigopidae, they make up the order Psittaciformes. The name cockatoo originated from the Malay name for these birds, kaka(k)tua (either from kaka “parrot” + tuwah, or “older sister” from kakak “sister” + tua, “old”). Placement of the cockatoos as a separate family is fairly undisputed, but it is not resolved whether or not other living lineages of parrots (such as the lories and lorikeets) are as distinct as they appear. The family has an Australasian distribution, ranging from the Philippines and the eastern Indonesian islands of Wallacea to New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Australia.

Cockatoos are, on average, larger than true parrots; however, the Cockatiel, the smallest cockatoo, is a small bird, while the largest cockatoo, the Palm Cockatoo, at 55–60 cm (22–24 in) long is smaller than the larger macaws and several other parrots. Their plumage is generally less colourful than that of other parrots, being mainly white, grey or black with some colour elsewhere. They have strong bills and feet, and are instantly recognisable by their showy crests. The diet of the cockatoos is composed of seeds, tubers, corms, fruit, flowers and insects. They often feed in large flocks, particularly if they feed on the ground. Cockatoos are monogamous and nest in tree hollows.

Cockatoos are popular birds in aviculture, although, for some species, the largely illegal trade in wild-caught parrots has threatened their survival. Some cockatoo species are adversely affected by habitat loss and particularly by the loss of suitable hollows for nesting when large, mature trees are cleared; conversely, some species have adapted well to human changes and are considered agricultural pests.” (From Wikipedia – Cockatoo)