The South-eastern Glossy Black-Cockatoo, the most widespread subspecies, is listed as Vulnerable in Queensland, New South Wales, and the ACT, and Critically Endangered in Victoria. It is also listed as Vulnerable nationally under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
Smaller and quieter than other black-cockatoos, these birds are known for their striking red-orange tail panels, dark-brown head plumage, and strong pair bonds. They depend on two key natural assets: she-oak trees for feeding, and mature eucalypts with large hollows for nesting.
South-eastern Glossy Black-Cockatoos live in patches of woodland and forest from central Queensland to eastern Victoria. Their range overlaps with human development, which has led to widespread habitat loss and fragmentation.
These birds are highly mobile but tied to specific habitat features:
Glossy Black-Cockatoos are specialist feeders, relying entirely on seeds from the cones of native she-oak trees. Their powerful beaks are adapted to crack open cones, leaving distinctive cone fragments called “chewings” or orts under feed trees.
They are highly selective, often returning to preferred trees while ignoring others nearby. Because not all she-oaks bear cones, and not all she-oaks with cones are fed on by the birds, identifying and protecting key feed trees is critical to conservation.
Glossy Black-Cockatoos are monogamous and breed slowly. A pair may lay just one egg every 1–2 years, and many of these do not survive to fledging to maturity. They nest in tall eucalypt hollows 10–20 metres above ground. After hatching, chicks stay with parents for months or longer.
Breeding success depends on the availability of:
Climate change, drought and food shortages
Understanding where Glossy Black-Cockatoos live, nest and feed is essential for protecting them. Every sighting, every record of a feed tree, and every nesting observation helps build our national knowledge base for this species.
Citizen science data collected through projects like the Great Glossy Count supports habitat protection, bushfire recovery, and development of the National Recovery Plan.
