Nesting season in the wild is reported to be August to January. The thick, fibrous hull of Pandanus fruit is easily pried open by Palm Cockatoos to obtain the seeds.1,3,6 While often referred to as a palm tree, Pandanus species are in a separate family, Pandanaceae, which is closely allied with palms. A favored food item is the fruit of the Pandanus. Wild diet includes fruits, nuts, berries, seeds and vegetable matter. It often moves considerable distances from rain forest areas through drier eucalyptus in search of food. Habitat preference is rain forest edges and adjacent eucalyptus forests. Palms are monomorphic making surgical sexing (or other techniques) necessary for proper pairing. goliath is generally considered to be 800 to 1100 grams and for Pa. The average weight for all males in the Avicultural Breeding and Research Center (ABRC) collection is 721 grams (range: 545 to 1092 grams), while the average for all females is 602 grams (range: 503 to 950 grams). Size difference between sexes has been observed.
Genetic analysis may be necessary to determine the validity of described subspecies. Overlapping size and physical characteristics makes current pairing difficult. Subspecies distinctions are extremely vague and may, in fact, represent geographical races. It ranges from Japen Island through northern West Irian eastwards to Collingwood Bay in Papua.1,2,3,4,s goliath but reportedly has narrower crest feathers. goliath is the largest subspecies and ranges from the western Papuan Islands through western New Guinea (West Irian or Irian Jaya) in the region of the Vogelkop Mountains and eastwards through Papua New Guinea. Joseph also reported that the Cape York habitat was recently given protection from mining and agricultural utilization. The distance from the southern coast of New Guinea to the Cape York Peninsula is approximately 150 miles. Joseph describes the Cape York population as intermediate in size between goliath and aterrimus, speculating that it may be unique. aterrimus, the nominate subspecies, is reported from the Cape York Peninsula, but also ranges from the Aru Islands through southern Irian, eastward to the Gulf of Papua. Most authors refer to three subspecies of Probosciger aterrimus, all three found on New Guinea. Palms are also found on some surrounding islands and the Cape York Peninsula in North Queensland Australia.1,2,3,s Palms range primarily on the Island of New Guinea which is divided into the independent country of Papua New Guinea on the east and West Irian, an Indonesian territory on the west. The significance of these adaptations warrant further study.!«Īnother area in need of study is Palm Cockatoo taxonomy. Unlike other psittacines, the long bones of legs, especially the tibiotarsus, is unusually elongated and that part of the leg is sparsely feathered. Oral and pharyngeal anatomy is also unique and highly specialized. Its naked red facial skin, capable of blushing, is unique in cockatoos. The highly specialized beak structure would seem to indicate co-evolution with a favored food item which, in this case, may be pandanus. Its heavy beak is adapted for cracking hard seeds, which it does with ease. The species is characterized by black plumage which is greyed by powder down.
Others feel it has a sinister appearance but most will agree the Palm Cockatoo is a unique and fascinating bird.
The Palm Cockatoo, Probosciger aterrirnus, is considered by some to be regal, the king of cockatoos.
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