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FOOTEDNESS IN THE GLOSSY BLACK-COCKATOO: SOME OBSERVATIONS AND A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE WITH A NOTE ON THE HUSKING OF Allocasuarina CONES BY THIS SPECIES

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A survey of the literature on the use of a particular foot to hold food by Australian parrots suggests
that most of the few species that have been studied are left-footed. Most, but not all, Glossy BlackCockatoos
Calyptorhynchus lathami observed have been left-footed. I present some field observations
on the footedness of this species; all birds but one were left-footed. I conclude that the right-footed
bird was unusual, and that the species is primarly left-footed.

Most Glossy Black-Cockatoos have been reported to husk Allocasuarina cones from the stem
end. I suggest that the husking of cones from the free end may be a distinguishing characteristic of
the discrete population of Glossy Black-Cockatoos inhabiting inland New South Wales.

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