Our local Glossy Black-Cockatoos (near Dubbo, in central
western NSW) seem to be exclusively left-footed.
Ian Temby wrote --
On the subject of handedness (footedness) mentioned by
Judie Peet, in all of the
Sulphur-crested Cockatoos and Long-billed Corellas
that I have observed, and in
a small number of Gang-gang Cockatoo
observations, the birds involved were all
left-footed. It would be
interesting to know how many other birding-ausers have
observations of
footedness in parrots, especially the cockatoos.
has been gathering data on this subject for some time and has
written several papers on the results.
Lynda welcomes more observations on this subject.
Lynda's published records reflect that some parrots
(including the Sulphur Crested and Gang-gangs) show a 100% left foot
preference.
(My own observations of the S-c C support that they are
left handed.)
Other species had mixed results but the majority had a
preference for using the left foot.
But the records to date for the Yellow Rosella indicate it is
always right footed
All my observations of our local Ringneck (the Cloncurry
Buln-buln) support the view that it is right handed/footed/clawed.
-- but it only uses its claws where the seed/fruit can
be pulled easily of the branch. Most of the time it uses the beak.
I hope I have interpreted Lynda's papers
correctly
Regards,
Bob Forsyth
Mount Isa, NW Qld.
