Black Cockatoos

Commemorating English botanist Sir Joeseph Banks, the Banksian, or Red tailed black is more common in drier regions. There are five subspecies recognized, differing mainly in beak size and the color of the females. During the courtship display, the male hides his beak by puffing up his crest and cheek feathers. He sings and struts for her, flashing his red tail band. She in turn often responds by biting him in defense.

Calyptorhynchus banksii

Tying with Black Cockatoo Feathers

There are numerous subspecies of Black Cockatoo but the two that are of note to fly tiers are the Banksian and the Yellow-tailed. The male Banksian has a solid red center section of the tail, while the female has black bars and a field of red, orange and yellow. The Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo male feather has a solid section like the Banksian but is pale yellow in color while the female has a similar shaped section of speckled yellow.

Salmon fly patterns calling for “Black Cockatoo” (referring to the female), are the Penpergwm Pet, the Cockatoo, the Highland Gem, Silver Spectre and others. Used as sections in wings or singly as horns the feather is unmistakable. Antique flies have revealed that large sections of the all red male feather have been used for wings on bass flies.

Also, Native North and South Americans use these feathers in ceremonial fans. The feathers are not inexpensive but a little goes a long way. Crafters and creative tiers will find new uses for these feathers

red tailed
yellow tailed
white tailed
fly patterns
links to other exotics

Tail quills

These are perfectly matched pairs of tail quills. The pair below on the far right is the outer pair from the bird. Notice the outer edge on that pair is narrow and black?

As you move twords the center pair, that edge becomes thicker, and on the center pair, the stem runs down the center of both feathers. So the pair on the far left is found closest to the center of the tail. The center pair is not listed here, it is pure black.

Male

$150	$200	$200	$175	$175

Female

$150	$200	$225	$245	$175

Feather Assortment

Here are a few feather assortment that I've put together. The first is a full tail fan molted from a breeding male. Each feather is in good condition. The second is a full tail fan molted from a breeding female. And the third is an assortment of body feathers; crest, breast, wing coverts, and under tails from both males and females.


full tail-male - $1,750 full tail-female - $2,250 22 feather assortment - $125


full tail fan - male	full tail fan - female	feather assortment

Tail quills

I'm working on getting these together and will get them up here as soon as possible!

Male

$100

Tail quills

I'm working on getting these together and will get them up here as soon as possible!

Male

$100

I'm looking for pictures of flies and the recipies you used to tie them. Please give me a call or email me for more information.

Thanks!

Quick links to other exotics:

male red tailed black

female red tailed black

yellow tailed black

white tailed black

female tail quills

red tailed black male

male tail quills

male crests and female undertails