Funeral cockatoos

by

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The harsh cry of the Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos often echoes around the forested ridges here. It is supposed to be the harbinger of rain but it seems to be here right when it’s already wet or misty.

They come in small flocks but are a restless lot and I have always had trouble getting a photo. By the time my lens has found one amongst the higher branches, zoomed in and refocused, it’s moved on!
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Also sometimes called the Funeral Cockatoo because of its rusty black plumage, you don’t always see the short tufty crest raised — unlike the Sulphur-crested White Cockatoos with their flamboyantly waving yellow head-dresses.
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So I am very pleased to share these photos with you: I only wish it was video so you could hear the squawks!

6 thoughts on “Funeral cockatoos”

  2. Hi Sharyn, Now I know where the yellow tailed blacks are when they’re not at my place! ‘Hope the new book goes well. Trev.

  3. Hi Neridah, thanks for visiting the site. Yes I think I do remember you; there’s bound to be an event for this book up the Valley later. Might see you then. And the discount is offered by the publishers, as I don’t actually own any books!
    When I was researching Mountain Tail, I looked on the net and there are quite a few sites with much clearer pics than mine of the cockatoos; one in Canberra I recall as great. They are really hard to draw!
    And Shane, re ‘funeral’: while I call them ‘Rusty aristocrats’ in the piece on them in my new book, their official name has it there – twice!!
    Calyptorhynchus funereus funereus

  4. Hi Sharyn,
    You have taken some wonderful photos of the Yellow tailed black cockatoos, Thanks for posting them. I am shocked that anyone would call these amazing bright creatures Funeral cockatoos. They obviously never spent much time observing them.
    I hope the new book sales are doing well.

  5. Hi Sharyn,

    Thanks for the great photos of the yellow tailed black cuckatoos. My husband, a wild life artist, has recently painted a full sized female but had trouble finding the fine details for it. It was good for him to have these confirmed, particularly of the tail, as he wants his paintings to be as true to life as possible.

    I bought your first book and met you at Singleton library when you gave a talk there. As a member of the Hunter Writers Centre, I have just noticed you have a new book out (congratulations!) and happily have become aware that you have a website now.

    Thank you for the discount coupon for the new book, I look forward to reading it.

    Neridah

  6. Hi Sharyn,

    Thanks for the great photos of the yellow tailed black cockatoos. My husband, a wild life artist, has recently painted a full sized female but had trouble finding the fine details for it. It was good for him to have these confirmed, particularly of the tail, as he wants his paintings to be as true to life as possible.

    I bought your first book and met you at Singleton library when you gave a talk there. As a member of the Hunter Writer’s Centre, I have just noticed you have a new book being promoted, and that you have a website now. Thank you for the discount coupon for your new book, I look forward to reading it.

    Neridah

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