Cacatua tenuirostris ....................................................... By Gideon Scheepers
Description
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Long
Billed Corellas are white with very short broad crest. Their lores
are an orange -pink, as well as the underlying feathers of the head,
nape, breast and back. The ear-coverts and feathers above eye are
tinged with a yellow wash.
Their elongated bill is a greyish-horn colour. The periophthalmic
ring is a greyish-blue and they have a dark brown iris, the feet are
grey. The hen is similar to the male but with a shorter bill and slightly
smaller build. They are about 38-40cm in length.
Range & Habitat
Long Bills are found in southwest Australia in open woodlands with eucalyptus trees, forests, as well as cultivated areas with groups of trees. They are sometimes found in urban areas, gardens and parks. They are not common throughout their range and are only found in two isolated groups. They are found in small to large groups and occasionally in pairs. They will gather at night to roost in the tall eucalyptus trees near water holes. Long bills will drink water before leaving in early morning to forage. They mainly are ground feeders and are comical to see them scamper along the ground whilst foraging.
Housing in Aviculture
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They seem to need a large flight area and love to fly
the length of it; they should also be given access to the ground,
as they are ground feeders.
Breeding in Aviculture
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They
are not as difficult to breed as some other cockatoo species; they
will breed regularly once they get going. They must be supplied with
a sturdy nest such as a tree stump about 30 cm in diameter and 80
cm to 90 cm high, filled with about 30cm of wood chips and wood shavings,
not sawdust. Pairs will start breeding in spring, but can occur at
any time of year They will start to get very noisy just before laying
their clutch of between 2 and 5 eggs, they share the incubation period
of 23 to 24 days and will start incubating after laying the second
egg. The young fledge pretty quickly at the age of about 46 to 56
days. If the chicks are taken away at about 14 days the pair will
usually nest again soon after.
Pet Quality
Like most cockatoos they make great pets, were it not for their rarity in aviculture in South Africa, I would recommend them to anybody.
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Although all reasonable efforts have been made by Thomasriver Aviaries to validate the accuracy of the information contained in this site, Thomasriver Aviaries shall not be held responsible for any errors in, amendments to, or any damages arising from information supplied as aforesaid. Thomasriver Aviaries does not give any warranties as to the accuracy and completeness of the information and shall not accept liability whatsoever for the use by any party of such information. No claims whatsoever shall be accepted for any loss or damage arising from reliance on the information by any party. We are not responsible for any bites due to our birds when they are viewed or bought, you take full responsibility when you handle the birds.
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