Confusingly, this name was also used by early naturalists and Brazilian natives to refer to the dark blue hyacinth macaw. It is also sometimes given the misnomer 'black macaw' in aviculture – the macaws are unrelated New World parrots. The species was named the 'Goliath Aratoo' in Wood's Natural History (1862). 'Palm cockatoo' has been designated the official name by the International Ornithological Committee (IOC). Earlier limited genetic studies found it to be the earliest offshoot from the ancestors of what have become the cockatoo family. The palm cockatoo is a member of the white cockatoo subfamily Cacatuinae. The accepted type locality is the Aru Islands, rather than 'northern Australia'. The specific epithet aterrimus is Modern Latin meaning 'very black'. The genus name combines the Latin proboscis meaning 'snout' with -ger meaning 'carrying'. The palm cockatoo is now the only species placed in the genus Probosciger that was introduced by Heinrich Kuhl in 1820. The original drawing by de Bere is in the collection of the Natural History Museum, London. Joan Gideon Loten had provided Edwards with a drawing of the bird by the Sri Lankan artist Pieter Cornelis de Bevere. Gmelin based his description on the 'black cockatoo' that had been described and illustrated in 1764 by the English naturalist George Edwards. He placed it with the parrots in the genus Psittacus and coined the binomial name Psittacus aterrimus. The palm cockatoo was formally described in 1788 by the German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin in his revised and expanded edition of Carl Linnaeus's Systema Naturae.

It has a very large black beak and prominent red cheek patches. The palm cockatoo ( Probosciger aterrimus), also known as the goliath cockatoo or great black cockatoo, is a large smoky-grey or black parrot of the cockatoo family native to New Guinea, Aru Islands, and Cape York Peninsula. However, they can also be quite destructive and noisy, and require a large, secure enclosure to prevent escape and damage to property.Australian palm cockatoo range (in green) They are intelligent and social birds, and require a lot of attention and interaction from their owners. Black Palm Cockatoo in Captivityīlack Palm Cockatoos are popular pets due to their striking appearance and engaging personalities. The species is listed as vulnerable by the IUCN, and conservation efforts are underway to protect its remaining habitat and prevent illegal trade. It is also targeted by poachers, who capture birds for the pet trade. The Black Palm Cockatoo is threatened by habitat loss due to deforestation and human development. Threats and Conservation of Black Palm Cockatoo

The chick is then fed by both parents for several months until it is able to fend for itself. The female lays a single egg, which is incubated by both parents for around 30 days. It breeds once a year, typically during the dry season. The Black Palm Cockatoo is a monogamous species, meaning that it pairs up with a mate for life. However, due to habitat loss and fragmentation, its range has become quite restricted over the years.īreeding and Reproduction of Black Palm Cockatoo It is a bird of lowland forests and savannas, and is often found near water sources such as rivers and swamps. The Black Palm Cockatoo is native to the rainforests of northern Australia and New Guinea. Habitat and Distribution of Black Palm Cockatoo The Black Palm Cockatoo is known for its loud, raucous call, which can be heard from great distances. Its bill is also unique, as it is large and curved, adapted for cracking open hard nuts and seeds. It has a distinctive plumage, with black feathers and a large, bright red crest. The Black Palm Cockatoo is a large bird, measuring up to 70 cm in length and weighing up to 1 kg. However, due to habitat loss and poaching, the Black Palm Cockatoo is considered a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It is highly sought after by avian enthusiasts and collectors due to its striking appearance and charismatic personality. The Black Palm Cockatoo, also known as the Goliath Cockatoo or the Great Palm Cockatoo, is one of the largest species of cockatoo.

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