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  1. Species
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  3. Cacatuidae
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  5. Cacatua
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  7. Long-billed Corella
Long-billed Corella
Photo · By JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/) - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4288224

BirdUp · Species

Long-billed Corella

Cacatua tenuirostris(Kuhl, 1820)

Updated 23 July 2026

Conservation status: Least ConcernOrigin: Endemic
Order
PSITTACIFORMES
Family
Cacatuidae
Genus
Cacatua

At a glance

The Long-billed Corella is a large bird, about 38–41 cm long, listed as Least Concern and endemic to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
38–41 cm
Conservation status
Least Concern
Origin
Endemic
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Endemic
Movement
Resident
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Voice
  • Behaviour

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Long-billed Corella look like?

The Long-billed Corella is a large bird, about 38–41 cm long and weighing 357–718 g, identified by its distinctly long, bone-coloured bill; reddish-pink lores and forehead patch; bare, bluish eye-ring; and pinkish-red wash on upper breast.

The long-billed corella, also known as long-billed cockatoo or slender-billed corella, is a cockatoo native to Australia, which is similar in appearance to the little corella. This species is mostly white, with a reddish-pink face and forehead, and has a long, pale beak, which is used to dig for roots and seeds. It has reddish-pink feathers on the breast and belly.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

  1. 01

    Distinctly long, bone-coloured bill

    The upper mandible is notably elongated and slender.

  2. 02

    Reddish-pink lores and forehead patch

    A prominent patch of feathers concentrated between the eye and bill.

  3. 03

    Bare, bluish eye-ring

    A distinct ring of featherless, bluish-grey skin.

  4. 04

    Pinkish-red wash on upper breast

    A variable patch of colour across the chest.

Field specs

Length
38–41 cm
Weight
357–718 g
Wingspan
80 cm

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

Field tips

flight

  • In flight, look for a distinct pale yellow wash on the underside of the wings and the base of the tail feathers.

plumage

  • Look for a distinctive splash of reddish-pink feathers across the lower throat and upper breast, often appearing like a bright, messy bib.
  • Note the irregular patch of bare, bluish-grey skin around the eye, which is typically wider and more teardrop-shaped below the eye than above it.

size_and_shape

  • The upper mandible is exceptionally long, slender, and bone-colored, tapering to a fine point that extends significantly past the lower bill.
  • The crest is very short and frequently held flat against the head, giving the bird a noticeably smooth, rounded crown profile.

voice

  • Listen for a thin, quavering falsetto 'currup' or 'wulluk-wulluk' call that is more musical and higher-pitched than the harsh screeches of most cockatoos.

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Long-billed Corella?

The Long-billed Corella 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

Tim · Sydney NSW, Australia

Call

graeme lunt · Lal Lal VIC 3352, Australia

Call

Terra Occ · Cockman St, Warrnambool, VIC, AU

Call

Jason Graham · Tasmania, Seven Mile Beach, TAS, AU

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Long-billed Corella eat?

The Long-billed Corella feeds on seeds and corms/tubers, usually foraging in flocks.

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Long-billed Corella live in Australia?

The Long-billed Corella is endemic to Australia, recorded across 42 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingSouth-east SA to central VIC (south-east Australia); expanding and introduced elsewhere

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident

8 regions recorded