Western corella

Western corella
At Blackpool Zoo, England
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Psittaciformes
Superfamily:	Cacatuoidea
Family:	Cacatuidae
Subfamily:	Cacatuinae
Tribe:	Cacatuini
Genus:	Cacatua
Subgenus:	Licmetis
Species:	C. pastinator
Binomial name
Cacatua pastinator (Gould , 1841)

The western corella (Cacatua pastinator) formerly known as the western long-billed corella, is a species of white cockatoo endemic to south-western Western Australia.

Taxonomy

The western corella was formerly considered either a subspecies of the little corella or the long-billed corella, before being recognised as a full species. There are two subspecies:

• Muir's corella, Cacatua (Licmetis) pastinator pastinator (Gould, 1841)
• Butler's corella, Cacatua (Licmetis) pastinator butleri Ford, J., 1987

Aviculture

This species has the ability to mimic clearly and, like other cockatoos, bonds strongly to its owner. The western corella may show aggression to other birds in the aviary. It is not as common in aviculture as the little corella or long-billed corella.

Status and conservation

Cacatua pastinator pastinator in Perth, Western Australia

While generally uncommon, it has expanded its range in recent decades, and is therefore listed as of least concern by BirdLife International. However, the nominate subspecies, Muir's corella, is relatively rare, with a population of around 3000 individuals, and is considered to be nationally Vulnerable.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Western corella.

• BirdLife Species Factsheet.
• Information about Muir's corella (Cacatua pastinator pastinator)
• Western Corella