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Escapee Palm Cockatoo sighted

on 10th March 2009

A Palm Cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus) was sighted at Upper Seletar by Eric Pooi a.k.a. ericp in early March 2009.

According to Eric, this is clearly an escapee, as “…there is a broken chain on his leg… hopefully it can survived in Singapore… Notice its wings were badly damaged though flying is still not a problem…”

Palm Cockatoo is an impressive bird in its all black plumage and spectacular crest of back-curving crest of narrow, elongated feathers. There is a prominent naked crimson cheek patch and an equally prominent grey-black bill.

Abundant in Australia, this cockatoo is not known to Singapore. We have been seeing so many escapee birds recently, so much so that this island will one day be a one big bird park.

According to Rane Wong a.k.a. reno, you need a licence to keep the bird in Singapore.

Image by Eric Pooi.

This post is a cooperative effort between NaturePixels.org and BESG to bring the study of bird behaviour through photography to a wider audience.

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

Other posts by YC Wee

2 Responses

  1. Yup! Saw this chap at Upper Seletar Reservoir Park on February 23rd and March 3rd. Its call can be heard from quite a distance away. Palm Cockatoos do escape from time to time but none seem to survive for long.

    There are so many parrot species escaping around Singapore, all the time, that no birder’s / bird photographer’s home library is complete without Parrots of the World.

    Even if we only have three native parrot species!

  2. I saw this magnificant bird at Springleaf garden estate twice during last two weeks. It was seen flying between fruiting trees including Benjamin fig. Glad that it has manage to adapt and survived well in our local habitat.

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