Cacatua tenuirostris X sanguinea

1 Long-billed X Little Corella (Hybrid) at Phillip, ACT

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Identification history

Cacatua tenuirostris X sanguinea	13 Nov 2018	ChrisDavey
Cacatua tenuirostris X sanguinea	18 Aug 2018	ChrisDavey
Cacatua sanguinea	8 Aug 2018	AlisonMilton

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9 comments

natureguy wrote:

8 Aug 2018

Hi Alison, the bird on the right is definitely a Little Corella, but the one on the left has a longer bill and more red on the face, so either a Little x Long-billed Corella hybrid (most likely) or a Long-billed corella.

AlisonMilton wrote:

8 Aug 2018

I did note the longer bill but thought it wasn't long enough for a long-billed. I've also seen Sulphur-crested cockatoos with very long upper bills. But given the extra red around the face agree it could be a long-billed or cross breed.

ArcherCallaway wrote:

9 Aug 2018

I think both are littles. Definitely not a pure long-billed.

AlisonMilton wrote:

9 Aug 2018

Thanks. What I thought originally.

rainer wrote:

10 Aug 2018

I agree, hybrid LB Corella. In its “pure” state LB Corella has a bright red chest band.

ArcherCallaway wrote:

10 Aug 2018

All suspected hybrids I've seen in the past have had a pink band across the front. I can't see anything to suggest this is nothing but a normal Little Corella

rainer wrote:

10 Aug 2018

Hybrids by their nature are variable. Might even be a second generation one!

ArcherCallaway wrote:

10 Aug 2018

As are pure Little Corellas

ChrisDavey wrote:

16 Aug 2018

I asked Joe Forshaw for his opinion, see his response below
The bird on the left certainly has genes of the Slender-billed Corella C. tenuirostris as evidenced by traces of red on the foreneck, but I do not believe that it is a first generation hybrid. More likely one of its parents was a hybrid, so it would be second or possibly even third generation hybrid. As the hybrids pair with pure little Corellas it is going to be more difficult to detect the hybrid traits. Chris

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