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Doug J | all galleries >> Birds, Birds, Birds >> Non-passeriformes Gallery > Palm Cockatoo
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Palm Cockatoo

Scientific name: Probosciger aterrimus
Order: Psittaciformes

Also called Goliath Cockatoo

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The Palm Cockatoo is distributed in rainforests and woodlands of New Guinea and northern Queensland, Australia. It is a distinctive bird with a large crest and has one of the largest bills of any parrots (only the Hyacinth Macaw's is larger). This powerful bill enables Palm Cockatoos to eat very hard nuts and seeds that other species have difficulty accessing. The bill is unusual as the lower and upper mandibles do not meet for much of its length, allowing the tongue to hold a nut against the top mandible while the lower mandible works to open it. The Palm Cockatoo also has a distinctive red cheek patch that changes colour when the bird is alarmed or excited.

Canon EOS 10D ,Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
1/400s f/3.5 at 200mm ISO 400 with Flash full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
comment
rocky14-Oct-2008 11:11
Best shot of this beauty I've seen! V.