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The Western Corella (Cacatua pastinator), also known as the Western long-billed corella, is a species of white cockatoo native to southwestern Australia. It is one of three corella species found in Australia, the other two being the Little Corella and the Long-billed Corella. The Western Corella has two geographically isolated subspecies: Butler's corella (Cacatua pastinator butleri) and Muir's corella (Cacatua pastinator pastinator). The Western Corella is endemic to southwestern Australia, with a population of 5,000-10,000 birds in the northern wheat belt of southwestern Australia and a smaller population of around 1,000 birds in the far southwest of the state.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cacatua pastinator |
| Common Name | Western Corella, Western Long-Billed Corella, Little Corella, Bare-Eyed Cockatoo, Blood-Stained Cockatoo, Little Cockatoo |
| Habitat | Undulating land with low relief (less than 100m), native vegetation, wheat farms, and sheep farms |
| Diet | Seeds, grains, grass seeds, fruits, flowers, insects, bulbs, corms, onion grass, insect larvae |
| Behaviour | Congregate in large flocks, feed on the ground, visit water sources daily, breed in tree hollows, form strong bonds with owners |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern, threatened by habitat clearing |
| Distribution | Confined to extreme south-west of Western Australia, absent from Perth |
| Subspecies | Butler's Corella (Cacatua pastinator butleri), Muir's Corella (Cacatua pastinator pastinator), Cacatua (Licmetis) pastinator derbyi |
| Physical Characteristics | White plumage, long pointed bill, blue-grey eye skin, crimson pink colouring between eyes and beak, small pink throat patch, broad rounded wings, short tail, erect white crest |
| Size | Length: 38-48 cm, Weight: 370-815 g |
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What You'll Learn
Western Corella's habitat and diet
Western Corellas, also known as Western Long-billed Corellas, are a species of white cockatoo endemic to south-western Australia. They are medium-sized, stocky birds with erect white crests, blue-grey eye skin, and crimson pink colouring between the eyes and beak. The sexes are difficult to distinguish, as they lack sexual dimorphism.
The habitat of Western Corellas consists of undulating land with low relief, typically less than 100 meters above sea level. Their natural habitat has been significantly altered by human activities, with over 90% of native vegetation cleared for farming, particularly wheat and sheep farming. As a result, Western Corellas are now commonly found in agricultural landscapes, including pasture, fields of crops, and even urban parks. They prefer to live close to water and are often seen near watercourses and seeding grasses.
Western Corellas are primarily seed eaters, with their diet consisting of wheat grains, native seeds, bulbs, corms, and insect larvae. They have adapted well to the abundance of food sources provided by agricultural activities, which has led to their persecution and a detrimental impact on their population in some areas. During the winter and spring, insect larvae become an important part of their diet, with the exoskeleton discarded and the larvae gutted before feeding to the young.
Western Corellas spend most of their time on the ground, foraging for food among leaf litter and mulch. They are known to feed in large open areas, such as pastures and crops, and have been observed feeding on various plants, including marri seeds and onion grass. They may also feed on fruits, flowers, and other insects, depending on the availability in their habitat.
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Western Corella's subspecies
The Western Corella, also known as the Western Long-billed Corella, is an iconic species of bird in Western Australia. It consists of two geographically isolated subspecies: Butler's Corella and Muir's Corella. These two subspecies are native to separate regions of south-west Western Australia, with a population difference of 5000-10000 birds in the northern Wheatbelt region and approximately 1000 birds in the far south-west.
Butler's Corella (Cacatua pastinator butleri)
Butler's Corella is the northern subspecies of the Western Corella. It is found in the northern and central wheatbelt regions of Western Australia. This subspecies is generally smaller than Muir's Corella, with adults ranging from 40-48 centimetres in length and weighing up to 700 grams. The bill is dullish grey-white, and the upper mandible has a long tip. The legs are dark grey, and the underparts are often stained or dirty from feeding on the ground.
Muir's Corella (Cacatua pastinator pastinator)
Muir's Corella is the southern subspecies of the Western Corella. It is found in the far south-west area of Western Australia. This subspecies is larger than Butler's Corella, with adults ranging from 43-48 centimetres in length and weighing between 560-815 grams. Muir's Corella has similar physical characteristics to Butler's Corella, including the dullish grey-white bill and dark grey legs.
Both subspecies of the Western Corella are stocky, medium-sized cockatoos with broad, rounded wings, short tails, and usually flattened crests. They are often conspicuous in large flocks of up to 700 birds during the summer and spend days or weeks in any one location feeding and behaving raucously. They eat seeds, fruits, flowers, and insects, and prefer to live close to water. Western Corellas are known for their noisy and inquisitive nature, with a distinct call described as a wavering falsetto with eerie or ghostly tonal qualities.
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Western Corella's physical characteristics
Western Corellas, also known as Western Long-billed Corellas, are a species of white cockatoo native to south-western Australia. They are medium-sized, stocky birds with broad, rounded wings, a short tail, and a flattened crest. The adult birds range in length from 17-19 inches (43-48 cm) and have a wingspan of about 35 inches (90 cm). They weigh between 19.8-30.3 oz (560-860 g). The weight and length vary between the two subspecies, with the northern subspecies being smaller and lighter than the southern subspecies.
The plumage of Western Corellas is mostly white, with a prominent orange-red wash over the lores (the area between the eyes and the bill) and a strong yellow wash on the undersides of the wings and tail. The feathers of the head, neck, and chest have orange-red bases that are usually only exposed during preening or if ruffled by the wind. The eyes are dark brown with a ring of blue-grey skin around each eye, and the bill is pale grey to off-white. The upper mandible has a long tip, and the legs and feet are grey. The underparts of the bird may appear stained or dirty due to their ground-feeding habits.
Western Corellas are social birds and can form large flocks of up to 700 individuals. They are known for their raucous behaviour and can be heard from a considerable distance. Their call is described as a wavering falsetto with eerie qualities, accompanied by various shrieks and squeaky conversational tones. They are often found in pairs or small flocks, but their numbers can increase significantly at productive feeding sites or bodies of water.
The two subspecies of Western Corellas are Butler's Corella (Cacatua pastinator butleri) and Muir's Corella (Cacatua pastinator pastinator). They inhabit undulating farmlands with significant clearance for wheat and sheep farming, and their remaining native vegetation is confined to small, isolated patches. The population of both subspecies has been increasing over the past 50 years due to their adaptability and the availability of food and water. However, one of the subspecies, Muir's Corella, is considered vulnerable, with a population of around 3,000 individuals.
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Western Corella's conservation status
The Western Corella, Cacatua pastinator, is a species of white cockatoo endemic to southwestern Australia. It is also known as the Western Long-Billed Corella. The species consist of two geographically isolated subspecies: Butler's Corella (Cacatua pastinator butleri) and Muir's Corella (Cacatua pastinator pastinator). The former occurs in the northern and central wheat-belt region of Southwest Australia, while the latter, consisting of larger birds, occurs in the far southwest of Western Australia.
The Western Corella is considered an iconic species of bird in Western Australia. They are often conspicuous in large flocks of up to 700 birds during the summer, spending days or weeks in any one location feeding and behaving raucously. The breeding pairs tend to be stable, but a moderate rate of divorce of about 15% has been observed. Flocks of Western Corellas are often very noisy and can be heard from a considerable distance. They eat seeds, fruits, flowers, and insects, and they spend most of their time on the ground in search of food. They prefer to live close to water and visit bird baths regularly.
The conservation status of the Western Corella is listed as a "least concern." However, habitat clearing poses a threat to the species. The Western Australian Threatened Species Scientific Committee has listed Muir's Corella as Endangered using the IUCN (2001) Red List Categories and Criteria, and this listing has been endorsed by the Western Australian Minister of the Environment. The population of both subspecies has steadily increased since the period of decline at the turn of the twentieth century. In the last 50 years, the release from persecution by landowners, together with their adaptability, has allowed an expansion of their range into the Western Australia wheat belt, which provides abundant food and water supplies.
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Western Corella's behaviour
Western Corellas, also known as Western Long-billed Corellas, are a species of white cockatoo native to southwestern Australia. They are social birds, often forming large flocks of up to 700 individuals, and are known for their raucous behaviour. They spend most of their time on the ground searching for food and are often found near water sources.
The diet of Western Corellas consists primarily of seeds, fruits, flowers, and insects. During the months of December to April, they feed on wheat grain and native seeds, while bulbs and corms become their main food source from May to November. In late winter and spring, insect larvae form an important part of their diet, providing essential protein for both adult Corellas and their nestlings.
Western Corellas are medium-sized, stocky birds with broad, rounded wings, short tails, and a usually flattened crest. They have blue-grey eye skin, crimson pink colouring between the eyes and beak, and a small pink patch on their throat. The upper mandible is long-tipped, and the legs are dark grey. The plumage of the underparts may appear stained or dirty due to their ground-feeding habits.
Determining the sex of Western Corellas is challenging due to a lack of sexual dimorphism. However, males are generally larger and have a deeper alarm call than females. Western Corellas form monogamous pairs, and both sexes participate in building nests, incubating eggs, and caring for their young.
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Frequently asked questions
The Western Corella (Cacatua pastinator), also known as the Western long-billed corella, is a species of white cockatoo native to south-western Australia.
The Cacatua pastinator is a white cockatoo with the upper wing entirely white and the underside of the wing pale yellow. It has an erect white crest, blue-grey eye skin, crimson pink colouring between the eyes and beak, a small pink patch on the throat, and a long pointed bill.
Western Corellas eat seeds, fruits, flowers, and insects. They spend most of their time on the ground searching for food. They prefer to live close to water and visit bird baths regularly.
There are two geographically isolated subspecies of Western Corella: Butler's Corella (Cacatua pastinator butleri) and Muir's Corella (Cacatua pastinator pastinator). Butler's Corella is found in the northern and central wheatbelt of Western Australia, while Muir's Corella is found in the far south-west of the state.
