We’ve known for a while that we should get Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoos in our area, but until this week, we haven’t seen any.  Earlier in the week, on one of my walks I had spotted some black birds which seemed to be making ‘hyena-style’ laughing noises, but I couldn’t get close enough to see what kind of birds they were.  Then, coming home yesterday, Richard saw this flock perched in trees just outside our bedroom.  He had rushed in the get the camera, taken the photos and the birds had all flown away before I even knew they were there, so I still haven’t actually seen them in reality.

Richards photos show a flock of about five or six birds.  According to my bird reference books, they do make a giggling noise, so I am sure they are the same birds I saw from a distance on my walk.

Our bird reference books also indicate that the female Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoo has a white beak, grey rings around the eyes,  and bright yellow ear patches, while the male birds have red rings around their eyes, a paler yellow patch over their ears and a black beak.  Immature birds have ‘pearling’ marks around the edges of some of their feathers.

You can bet that when I am out walking, I will be listening for those characteristic giggles.  I really want to see them for myself because they are such beautiful looking birds!