. Long billed Corella
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- An Australian Parrot
- Scientific Name: Cacatua
- Common Name/s:
WESTERN LONG BILLED CORELLA, WESTERN AUSTRALIAN LONG BILLED
- Sub Species in country / area of origin:
2. Cacatua pastinator pastinator, Cacatua pastinator
- Origin / Distribution: 2
populations in the south-western Western Australia
- Habitat In Wild: Originally
forested and woodland areas and the surrounding secondary
vegetation. Has adapted
well to grain and cereal growing areas and farming areas. Was
originally destroyed as a pest in many farming areas.
- Status In Wild: Rare. Cacatua
pastinator pastinator may be endangered.
- Status In (Australian) Captivity:
- Age To Sexual Maturity: ?
- Best breeding years (estimate):
- Lifespan (estimate): approx.
20 or more
- Sexing: Monomorphic
/ Dimorphic. Surgical sexing is
- Colour mutations: No
- Availability: Rarely bred.
- Temperament: Active energetic
birds. Can be noisy. May roll onto their back on the
ground and play with toys or other objects found in their aviary.
They should be provided with bird safe toys to play with and
- Cost (Victoria) Per Pair: -
Normal colour (Approx.) $200 = Cacatua pastinator derbyi.
- Description Of Adults:
Cacatua pastinator pastinator (Cacatua pastinator derbyi is slightly smaller than the nominate sub-species
- Length: Approx 450 mm (or approx 20 inches)
- Colour ( "normal" colour ): Refer
photo/s above if available.
- Weight: Approx 700 - 800 gms (or approx 25 - 28 ozs)
Cacatua pastinator derbyi is the sub-species held in Australian
Level Of Knowledge Required:
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
Government Regulations & By-Laws:
Refer to " Government Laws " web page.
Housing Requirements: Refer to "
Housing Birds " web page for general
details on the housing of Cockatoos or read on for specific details for
An aviary of 4 to 5 metres long will allow
these birds to be able to get adequate exercise. Minimum length
should be about 3 metres (10 feet). The aviary should
be about 1.2 to 1.5 metres wide and about 2.1 metres high. Heavy
gauge wire is necessary, preferably galvanized weldmesh.
Should be housed as one pair per aviary.
The Western Corella is usually intolerant of other birds in an aviary.
If they are housed with other birds, they may harm the other birds or
even kill them. Double wiring between adjoining aviaries is
essential. They love to bathe.
They can be housed and bred in a
suspended cage. For best long term breeding results, it is best to
allow birds that have been confined to a suspended cage during the
breeding season access to an aviary during the non-breeding season.
A suspended cage should be about 1 metre wide and 1 metre high and 2 to
3 metres long.
Suitable non-toxic leafy branches can be placed in the aviary for the birds to chew up.
This will entertain the birds, help minimize boredom and give the birds
some beak exercise. Natural branches can be used for perches. These
natural perches will be chewed by the birds and may need to be replaced
Diet / Feeding: Refer to "
Feeding Birds " web page for general
details on the feeding of Cockatoos or read on for specific details for
In the wild these birds forage for food
on the ground. The Western Corella has a long pointed bill
adapted for digging into the ground to get to bulbs and roots.
Also used to dig in cereal and grain crops. Wheat is consumed when
available. Insects form part of the natural diet.
Native foods include seeds of the
Acacia, Eucalypt and the introduced Pine species along with the seeds of
grasses and other plants. Branches, seeds
and cones of these trees and other suitable native plants should be
offered to the birds along with branches and fruiting bodies of the
cotoneaster and hawthorn bushes. This will provide them with hours
of physical activity and mental stimulation as well as a varied diet.
Aviary diet includes canary seed, corn,
hulled oats, millet, milo, and wheat. Aviary diet should restrict the amount
of Sunflower and safflower seed.
Other foods can include apple, orange, almonds, peanuts, vegetables such as
broccoli, corn, peas and silverbeet. Plain Madeira
cake, and seeding grasses. Many will eat insects such as grubs and
mealworms. Dry dog food can be offered.
Commercial Parrot pellets can make up part of a balanced
Nesting: A basic overview only. Dimensions
are typical / average and can vary widely, influenced by the owner's
preferences and the birds preferences. Parent bird's preferences can
also be influenced by the size and type of nest-box / log in which the
bird was hatched and reared. If space allows, offering a choice of
sizes and types of logs or nest-boxes, and placed in various locations
within the aviary, can allow the parent birds to make their own choice.
Once a pair has chosen a specific nest-box/log and been successful in
it, offer that one to them each breeding season. Try and keep that one
for their exclusive use. Once a pair has chosen its log or nest-box,
the other ones can generally be removed. If the "spare" boxes are to be
removed and moved to another flight, ensure the log / nest-box is
cleaned to ensure the receptacle has the minimal contamination of mites,
parasites and pathogens.
- Nesting months:
- Log / Nest-box:
/ depth 600 - 800 mm (or approx. 24 - 32 inches)
- Log internal
diameter approx. - mm. (or approx. -
- Nest-box internal dimensions approx. -
mm square (or approx. - inches square)
- Diameter of
hole approx. ? mm (or approx. ? inches)
- Inspection hole (square or round)
(or approx 4 inches)
- A removable top / lid can be a
useful access point for inspections and for cleaning.
- Location and height
of log / nest-box = high in the covered part of the aviary but not
too close to the roof to be affected by heat from the roof in the
- Angle of log or nest box = Log or nest box can be
vertical or on an angle of up to 45 degrees.
- Nesting log / nest-box material:
Decomposed non-toxic saw dust, wood shavings or other suitable
- Who incubates the egg/s:
/ cock / both share.
Timber nest-boxes generally require a
climbing structure attached inside the box below the entrance hole. Both
logs and nests need an entrance hole/opening about 100mm (about 4 inches) from the top. Many species of parrots like the entrance hole
to be just big enough to squeeze through.
More details on
parrot nestboxes/logs and a selection of
parrot nestbox/log photos
can be found on the "nests", "parrot nests"
and "parrot nestbox photos"
web pages. Click on "Up" then "Nests" then "parrot nests"
and "parrot nestbox photos" in
the navigation bars.
Breeding: Egg Colour
White. Clutch/s per year = usually 1. Eggs
per nest 2 - 3. Incubation
approx. 24 days. Fledge approx. 6 - 8 weeks.
Independent approx. another 4 weeks but best to leave with parent
birds till 8 - 10 weeks.
Cacatua pastinator derbyi is the sub-species held in
Australian aviaries. Youngsters in the wild have a poor survival
rate and few make it to breeding age. Cacatua pastinator
pastinator is subject to a controlled captive breeding program, Species
Management Plan, to increase their numbers in captivity and to learn
more about its specific husbandry requirements in captivity.
Both parents look after the young. Generally safe to leave the
young with the parent birds, however if any aggression is shown, the
young should be immediately removed to another aviary.
Artificial incubation and hand
rearing or fostering will not be covered on this web site. It is
too complex and diverse in nature to be attempted here.
Health Issues: Refer to "Avian
Health Issues" web page for information and references.
- Worming and parasite control
and Quarantine requirements of new bird/s or sick bird/s are
considered to require veterinary advice and therefore not covered on
this web site. Refer "Avian Health Issues"
- Avian medicine is advancing
at a rapid pace. Keep updating your knowledge and skills.
References: Refer to references listed on "Book References"
- Australian Aviculture
- A/A Vol 49 No. 6 Jun 1995 Page 137-140 (Inc photo)
- A/A Vol 45 No. 3 Mar 1991 Page 55-57
- A/A Vol 36 No. 6
Jun 1982 Page 127-128 (Inc photo)
- A/A Vol 29 No. 9 Sept 1975 Page
132-134 (Inc photo)
- Australian Birdkeeper
- ABK Vol 7 Issue 4. Aug-Sept 1994 Page 186-188
- ABK Vol 4 Issue 10. Aug-Sept 1991 Page 476-479
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