Glossy Black-Cockatoo

1. Females have yellow patches on head and neck; males have plain heads

2. Smallest of Australia's black cockatoos with distinctive bulbous bill

3. Drawn-out, wheezing "kee-aiirrk" call that sounds rougher than other black cockatoos

These birds form lifelong partnerships and are devoted parents. They typically lay just one egg every 1-2 years, usually between March and August. The female incubates the egg while the male brings her food. After hatching, both parents care for their single chick for months, even after it leaves the nest. Their specialized bill has evolved specifically for extracting seeds from tough she-oak cones.

Look for Glossy Black-Cockatoos in forests and woodlands containing she-oak trees (Allocasuarina and Casuarina) across eastern Australia and on Kangaroo Island in South Australia. They're most active in the early morning and late afternoon when feeding in the canopy of she-oaks. These birds tend to be quiet and unobtrusive while feeding, so scan the trees carefully. A helpful tip: look for discarded cone fragments ("chewings") under she-oak trees – these are telltale signs that Glossy Blacks have been feeding recently, even if the birds themselves have moved on.