Slender billed Corella
BirdCare.com.au
PO  Box 126 Mitcham Vic 3132 ( Victoria, Australia )

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. Slender billed Corella
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    slender billed corella
  • An Australian Parrot                                                   (Click on photo to enlarge)
  • Scientific Name:  Cacatua tenuirostris
  • Common Name/s:  SLENDER BILLED CORELLA,  EASTERN CORELLA,  EASTERN LONG BILLED CORELLA,  LONG BILLED CORELLA.
  • Sub Species in country / area of origin:  None
  • Origin / Distribution:  South-eastern Australia.
  • Habitat In Wild:  Grassy woodlands, but will move into urban areas, parks and gardens to find food.
  • Status In Wild:  Numbers are increasing due to their use of farmland crops as an alternative food source.  Feral populations have established outside their natural range.  Can be considered a pest in some farming areas due to the damage it does to crops such as cereals and sunflower .
  • Status In (Australian) Captivity:  Not many bred in captivity.  Mainly kept as a pet or companion bird.
  • Age To Sexual Maturity:  3 - 4 years
  • Lifespan (estimate):  approx. 20 or more years
  • Sexing:  Monomorphic / Dimorphic  Surgical or DNA sexing is advisable.
  • Colour mutations:  None
  • Availability:  Bird dealers and specialist breeders.  Not a popular bird due in part to it being considered as an unattractive bird.
  • Temperament:  Docile and can make good pets but are noisy and may not be suitable in built up areas.  For breeding, best kept one pair per aviary.  Can learn to talk
  • Cost (Victoria) Per Pair: - Normal colour (Approx.) $200
  • Description Of Adults:
  1. Length: Approx 370 mm (or approx 15 inches)
  2. Colour ( "normal" colour ): Refer photo/s above (Click on photo to enlarge).
  3. Weight: Approx 500 - 650 gms (or approx 18 - 23 ozs)

Aviary Notes:

Level Of Knowledge Required: Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced / Specialist Breeders Only.

Government Regulations & By-Laws:  Refer to " Government Laws " web page.

Housing Requirements:  Refer to " Housing Birds " web page for general details on the housing of Cockatoos or read on for specific details for this parrot.

An aviary of 4 to 5 metres long will allow these birds to be able to get adequate exercise.  Minimum length should be about 3 metres (10 feet).  The aviary should be about 1.2 to 1.5 metres wide and about 2.1 metres high.  Heavy gauge wire is necessary, preferably galvanized weldmesh.

Should be housed as one pair per aviary.  The Slender billed Corella is often intolerant of other birds in an aviary.  If they are housed with other birds, they may harm the other birds or even kill them.  Double wiring between adjoining aviaries is essential.  They love to bathe.

They can be housed and bred in a suspended cage.  For best long term breeding results, it is best to allow birds that have been confined to a suspended cage during the breeding season access to an aviary during the non-breeding season.  A suspended cage should be about 1 metre wide and 1 metre high and 2 to 3 metres long.

Suitable non-toxic leafy branches can be placed in the aviary for the birds to chew up. This will entertain the birds, help minimize boredom and give the birds some beak exercise. Natural branches can be used for perches. These natural perches will be chewed by the birds and may need to be replaced regularly.

Diet / Feeding:  Refer to " Feeding Birds " web page for general details on the feeding of Cockatoos or read on for specific details for this parrot.

In the wild these birds forage for food on the ground.  Natural foods include seeds, fruits, leaf and flower buds, nuts and fruiting bodies from native trees and shrubs.  The Slender billed Corella has a long pointed bill adapted for digging into the ground to get to bulbs and roots.  Also used to dig in cereal and grain crops.  Insects form part of the natural diet.

These birds now consume a variety of introduced plants and plant seeds and as a result these birds can survive outside their natural range.  They are able to make use of a very wide range of foods.

Aviary diet includes canary seed, corn, hulled oats, millet, milo, and wheat.  Aviary diet should restrict the amount of Sunflower and safflower seed. 

Other foods can include apple, orange, almonds, peanuts, vegetables such as broccoli, corn, peas and silverbeet.  Plain Madeira cake, and seeding grasses.  Many will eat insects such as grubs and mealworm larvae, pupa and beetles.  Dry dog food can be offered.

Commercial Parrot pellets can make up part of a balanced diet.

Nesting:  A basic overview only.  Dimensions are typical / average and can vary widely, influenced by the owner's preferences and the birds preferences.  Parent bird's preferences can also be influenced by the size and type of nest-box / log in which the bird was hatched and reared.  If space allows, offering a choice of sizes and types of logs or nest-boxes, and placed in various locations within the aviary, can allow the parent birds to make their own choice.  Once a pair has chosen a specific nest-box/log and been successful in it, offer that one to them each breeding season.  Try and keep that one for their exclusive use.  Once a pair has chosen its log or nest-box, the other ones can generally be removed.  If the "spare" boxes are to be removed and moved to another flight, ensure the log / nest-box is cleaned to ensure the receptacle has the minimal contamination of mites, parasites and pathogens.

  • Nesting months:  Spring onwards
  • Log / Nest-box:
    • Length / depth 600 - 800 mm (or approx. 24 - 32 inches)
    • Log internal diameter approx. 200 - 250 mm. (or approx. 8 - 10 inches)
    • Nest-box internal dimensions approx. 180 - 250 mm square (or approx. 7.2 - 10 inches square)
    • Diameter of entrance hole approx. 100 - 120 mm (or approx. 4 - 5 inches)
    • Inspection hole (square or round) 100 mm (or approx 4 inches)
    • A removable top / lid can be a useful access point for inspections and for cleaning.
    • Location and height of log / nest-box = high in the covered part of the aviary but not too close to the roof to be affected by heat from the roof in the summer months.
    • Angle of log or nest box = Log or nest box can be vertical or on an angle of up to 45 degrees.
  • Nesting log / nest-box material: Decomposed non-toxic saw dust, wood shavings or other suitable material/s.
  • Who incubates the egg/s: Hen / cock / both share. Both birds may share the incubation.

Timber nest-boxes generally require a climbing structure attached inside the box below the entrance hole. Both logs and nests need an entrance hole/opening about 100mm (about 4 inches) from the top. Many species of parrots like the entrance hole to be just big enough to squeeze through.

More details on parrot nestboxes/logs and a selection of parrot nestbox/log photos can be found on the "nests", "parrot nests" and "parrot nestbox photos" web pages.  Click on "Up" then "Nests" then "parrot nests" and "parrot nestbox photos" in the navigation bars.

Breeding: Egg Colour White.  Clutch/s per year .. usually 1.  Eggs per nest 2 - 4.  Incubation approx.  24 days.  Fledge approx. 6 - 8 weeks.  Independent approx. another 4 weeks but best to leave with parent birds till  8 - 10 weeks.

After the young leave the nest, initially both parents look after the young, but the hen soon ceases feeding and leaves the cock bird to feed the young till about the 4th week.  Generally safe to leave the young with the parent birds, however if any aggression is shown, the young should be immediately removed to another aviary.

Artificial incubation and hand rearing or fostering will not be covered on this web site.  It is too complex and diverse in nature to be attempted here.

Health Issues:  Refer to "Avian Health Issues" web page for information and references.

  • Worming and parasite control and Quarantine requirements of new bird/s or sick bird/s are considered to require veterinary advice and therefore not covered on this web site.  Refer "Avian Health Issues" web option.
  • Avian medicine is advancing at a rapid pace.  Keep updating your knowledge and skills.

General References:  Refer to references listed on "Book References" web page.

Specific References:

  • Australian Aviculture

  • Australian Birdkeeper
  • ABK Vol 18 Issue 11. Oct-Nov 2005 Page 669-673 (Corellas & Cockatoos of  inland Australia)

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