The mischievous look and beautiful plumage is what attracted me to paint this striking male Red Tailed Black Cockatoo affectionately named “Lenny”.
The red-tailed black cockatoo is a large black cockatoo native to Australia. Adult males have a characteristic pair of bright red panels on the tail that gives the species its name. It is more common in the drier parts of the continent. Five subspecies are recognised, differing most significantly in beak size. Although the more northerly subspecies are widespread, the two southern subspecies, the forest red-tailed black cockatoo and the south-eastern red-tailed black cockatoo are under threat.
The species is usually found in eucalyptus woodlands, or along water courses. In the more northerly parts of the country, these cockatoos are commonly seen in large flocks. They are seed eaters and cavity nesters, and as such depend on trees with fairly large diameters, generally Eucalyptus. Populations in south-eastern Australia are threatened by deforestation and other habitat alterations.
Thank you to wildlife photographer Keith Lightbody for graciously providing the reference photo as inspiration for this oil painting.
Dimensions:
Unframed – 61cm x 46cm (24″ x 18″)
Framed – 76cm x 61cm (30″ x 24″)
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