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  1. Species
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  3. Cacatuidae
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  5. Zanda
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  7. Baudin's Black Cockatoo
Baudin's Black Cockatoo
Photo · (c) Ruth Clark, some rights reserved (CC BY)

BirdUp · Species

Baudin's Black Cockatoo

Zanda baudinii(Lear, 1832)

Updated 11 June 2026

Also known asNgolyenok

Conservation status: Critically EndangeredOrigin: Endemic
Order
PSITTACIFORMES
Family
Cacatuidae
Genus
Zanda

At a glance

The Baudin's Black Cockatoo is a large bird, about 50–60 cm long, listed as Critically Endangered and endemic to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
50–60 cm
Conservation status
Critically Endangered
Origin
Endemic
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Rare
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Voice
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Baudin's Black Cockatoo look like?

The Baudin's Black Cockatoo is a large bird, about 50–60 cm long and weighing 560–770 g.

Baudin's black cockatoo, also known as Baudin's cockatoo or the long-billed black cockatoo, is a species of genus Zanda found in southwest Australia. The epithet commemorates the French explorer Nicolas Baudin. It has a short crest on the top of its head, and the plumage is mostly greyish black. It has prominent white cheek patches and a white tail band. The body feathers are edged with white giving a scalloped appearance. Adult males have a dark grey beak and pink eye-rings. Adult females have a bone coloured beak, grey eye-rings and ear patches that are paler than those of the males.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
50–60 cm
Weight
560–770 g
Wingspan
105 cm

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

Field tips

behaviour

  • Watch for the bird frequently erecting and flattening its short, rounded crest when it is curious, alarmed, or interacting with a mate.

flight

  • When flying overhead, look for striking broad white panels on the outer tail feathers that contrast sharply against the solid black central tail feathers.

plumage

  • Adult males are distinguished by a fleshy pink eye-ring, while females possess a grey eye-ring and notably paler ear patches.

size_and_shape

  • Look for an exceptionally long and narrow upper mandible that forms a needle-like, finely pointed hook extending well below the lower jaw.

voice

  • Listen for a high-pitched, two-syllable 'wich-er' contact call, which is the most common sound heard from flying flocks.

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Baudin's Black Cockatoo?

The Baudin's Black Cockatoo is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

04 · Voice

What it sounds like

Call

Ruth Clark · Western Australia, AU

0s

Call

Ruth Clark · Western Australia, AU

0s

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Baudin's Black Cockatoo eat?

The Baudin's Black Cockatoo feeds on seeds of proteaceae and myrtaceae, marri seeds and orchard fruit, usually foraging in extracts seeds from eucalyptus woodland using long upper mandible.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

4 photos

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Baudin's Black Cockatoo live in Australia?

The Baudin's Black Cockatoo is endemic to Australia, recorded across 8 of Australia’s bioregions.

Breeding range
South-west WA (south-west Australia)