The Palm Cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus) is a large parrot from New Guinea and a small area of northern Australia. It is also known as the Goliath Cockatoo or Great Black Cockatoo. Probosciger means long, thin nose.

The Palm Cockatoo is grey-black with red cheeks that can change colour when it is frightened or excited. It has a very large grey beak. It has the second largest beak of all parrots in the world (the Hyacinth Macaw has the largest beak). The top mandible (jaw) and the bottom mandible do not meet. It has a large crest. It has black feet and large black claws. It has black eyes.

It grows to about 60 centimetres (24 inches) tall.

The Palm Cockatoo can crack open very hard nuts and seeds with its large, strong beak.

It can break off twigs from trees and use them as drumsticks to make a drumming noise. This may be to attract a female to to deter other birds and animals from its territory.

It prefers tropical forests. It is found in New Guinea, Aru Islands, and the northern-most tip of Cape York Peninsula in northern Australia.

The female Palm Cockatoo lays only one egg every second year. However, they have a long lifespan of 30-50 years. It builds a nest in the hollow of a tree.

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM