Western Corella
Encyclopedia
The Western Corella formerly known as the Western Long-billed Corella, is a species
of white cockatoo
endemic to south-western Western Australia
.
of the Little Corella
or the Long-billed Corella
, before being recognised as a full species. There are two subspecies:
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
.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of white cockatoo
Cockatoo
A cockatoo is any of the 21 species belonging to the bird family Cacatuidae. Along with the Psittacidae and the Strigopidae , they make up the parrot order Psittaciformes . Placement of the cockatoos as a separate family is fairly undisputed, although many aspects of the other living lineages of...
endemic to south-western Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
.
Taxonomy
The Western Corella was formerly considered either a subspeciesSubspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
of the Little Corella
Little Corella
The Little Corella, Cacatua sanguinea, also known as the Bare-eyed Cockatoo, is a white cockatoo native to Australia and southern New Guinea....
or the Long-billed Corella
Long-billed Corella
The Long-billed Corella, Cacatua tenuirostris, is a cockatoo native to Australia, which is similar in appearance to the Little Corella and Sulphur-crested Cockatoo. This species is mostly white, with a reddish-pink face and forehead, and has a long pale beak, which is used to dig for roots and seeds...
, before being recognised as a full species. There are two subspecies:
- Muir's CorellaMuir's CorellaMuir's Corella is a stocky, medium-sized white cockatoo endemic to Western Australia. It is the threatened nominate subspecies of the Western Corella.-Description:...
, Cacatua (Licmetis) pastinator pastinator (GouldJohn GouldJohn Gould was an English ornithologist and bird artist. The Gould League in Australia was named after him. His identification of the birds now nicknamed "Darwin's finches" played a role in the inception of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection...
, 1841) - Butler's CorellaButler's CorellaButler's Corella is a medium-sized white cockatoo endemic to Western Australia. It is one of two subspecies of the Western Corella.-Description:...
, Cacatua (Licmetis) pastinator butleri Ford, J.Julian Ralph FordDr Julian Ralph Ford was an Australian chemist and ornithologist. He was born in Perth and graduated in chemistry from the University of Western Australia in 1955...
, 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
Least Concern
Least Concern is an IUCN category assigned to extant taxon or lower taxa which have been evaluated but do not qualify for any other category. As such they do not qualify as threatened, Near Threatened, or Conservation Dependent...
by BirdLife International
BirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources...
. However, the nominate subspecies, Muir's Corella, is relatively rare, with a population of around 3000 individuals, and is considered to be nationally Vulnerable
Vulnerable species
On 30 January 2010, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 9694 Vulnerable species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and sub-populations.-References:...
.