From Opus

Photo by Mat & Cathy
Rocky Gully, SW Western Australia, April 2007

Cacatua pastinator

[edit] Identification

45cm. White with orange/red lores; bases of feathers on head and mantle down to flanks washed with pink/orange. Grey/blue bare eye ring, more extensively beneath the eye. Eye dark brown. Underparts, under wing and undertail are washed pale yellow, slender and horn-coloured hooked bill, with long upper mandible, grey legs and feet. Sexes similar.

[edit] Distribution

Australian endemic only found in Western Australia.

[edit] Taxonomy

There are two subspecies, var. derbyi and var. pastinator.

[edit] Habitat

Near water courses, grassy woodlands and where seeding grasses are found.

[edit] Behaviour

They feed mainly on the ground; the diet includes cereal grains, grasses and exotic weeds, bulbs and germinating cereals, insects and their larvae.

The nest is in a hole in tree, mainly in native Eucalyptus, lined with woodchips. 2 - 3 eggs are laid and are incubated for 22 to 26 days, by both parents. The young are cared for by both parents, and fledge at about 8 weeks.

[edit] External Links

• View more images of this species on the ABID