The Palm Cockatoo

Probosciger aterrimus

Other Interesting Species:
Straw headed Bulbul
Asian Fairy Blue Bird
Blue Crowned Hanging Parrot
Blue Eye Cockatoo

 The Palm Cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus), also known as the Goliath Cockatoo, is a large black parrot of the cockatoo family and this species is unique in its kind. It is the only member in subfamily Microglossinae and monotypic genus Probosciger. Its unique position within the cockatoo family has been confirmed by molecular studies (Brown & Toft, 1999, Astuti, 2004).

The Palm Cockatoo is distributed in rainforests and woodlands of New Guinea and northern Queensland, Australia. It measures around 55-60 cm in length and weighs between 500-1,000 g. 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). 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 gape that changes colour when the bird is alarmed or excited.
 

The Palm Cockatoo makes four different kinds of vocalisations. It has a unique display where the bird drums a large branch against a dead bough or tree, creating a loud noise that can be heard up to 100 m away.

This species is in high demand for the pet trade due to its unusual appearance, and does not breed well in captivity, requiring the removal of wild birds. It is still relatively common in Cape York, but is threatened there by habitat loss. The Palm Cockatoo is currently evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is listed on Appendix I of CITES.

Three subspecies of Palms are known, Probosciger aterrimus aterrimus, P. a. goliath, and P. a. stenolophus. Palms range from 22�28 inches in length and 500�1200 grams in weight depending on sex and subspecies. According to Forshaw (Parrots of the World), Palms are native to New Guinea, the Aru Islands, Indonesia, and the Cape York Peninsula in northern Australia. They feed on seeds, nuts, fruits, berries, and leaf buds.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
The weight of the female Palm Cockatoo is between 500-950 grams, and the males weigh between 540-1100 grams. Both females and males height range from 49-68 centimeters. The wings are about 35.1 centimeters, the tail about 23.8 centimeters, the bill about 9.1 centimeters, and the tarsus about 3.5 centimeters. These Palm Cockatoos are very large birds. They are the second largest flying parrot after the hyacinth macaw.

The scientific name is derived from both Greek and Latin. Proboscis is Greek for nose, gero is Greek for carry, and atterimus is Latin for black. Most Palm Cockatoos are dark gray and black with a cheek-patch of bare red skin . The cheek skin color may change according to their level of stress, it may change pink or beige if it is stressed, or if it is excited it will turn yellow. Palm Cockatoos have a very strong mandible, which they use for cracking nuts.
DISTRIBUTION and HABITAT:
The Palm Cockatoo originated in New Guinea, Australia. It is also known to occur in the Aru Islands, Misool Isle in the Western Papuan Islands, West Irian, Southern New Guinea from Merauke east to the Gulf of Papua, and in Australia on the Cape York Peninsula in the Northern Territory. The Palm Cockatoo usually resides in rainforests. The Palm Cockatoo has three subspecies. The first one is the P.a. atterimus, which is from Misool, Aru, and Northern Australia. The second one is called P.a. goliath, which is from the Papuan Islands, and West Irian extending out to Southeastern Papuan. This is the largest subspecies of the Palm Cockatoos. The third subspecies is P.a. stenolopus, which is from New Guinea and West Irian.
BEHAVIOR:
Most captive birds behave differently from wild birds. Captive birds tend to display compulsive movements, and motions which they will continuously mimic. Territories are formed at tree top where nests occur. Palm Cockatoos, like many parrots, have the ability to learn and mimic the human voice. Cockatoos enjoy spending their days in the trees, digging up things, and foraging for fruits or whatever else they might find to eat. Palm Cockatoos are usually in pairs, but maybe found singlely or in groups of five to six. Sometimes the Palm Cockatoos gather and engage in social interactions such as preening, forming displays, and just calling out to one another.
DIET:
Palm Cockatoos sometimes feed on seeds and fallen fruits that they may find, but they would rather eat plants than fruits. They also eat insects, and insect larvae. Berries are common fruit that the Palm Cockatoos consume.
BREEDING and NESTING:

When male Palm Cockatoos are ready for courtship, they will display their beautiful feathers by stretching them to their full height, and approach the female, while calling to them at the same time. The age of maturation in the Palm Cockatoo is about four years old. The Palm Cockatoos lay only one egg per year. It takes anywhere from 30-35 days for their eggs to hatch, and the chick needs between 70-100 days before they are able to become almost the same height and weight of their parents. The chick will not emerge from its nest until approximately 100-110 days. About two weeks after leaving its nest, the chick still is not able to fly and is forced to depend on its parents for another six weeks.

Wild Population:

The Palm Cockatoo has been listed on CITES Appendix I since 1987 and may not be exported without permits.

In Malaysia, I saw many people have, kept and some of them breed palm cockatoo. One of my friend have 11 of them and some other friends able to breed it also... If you want to discuss about cockatoo, do visit Malaysia Bird Forum

* The information is from the wiki.