Longevity in Carnaby’s Cockatoo (Zanda latirostris) Carnaby, 1948

Context Carnaby’s Cockatoo Zanda latirostris is an endangered species endemic to south-western Australia. It has been the subject of long-term studies of its ecology from 1969 to the present. Aims This paper examines the maximum recorded life of the species in the wild. Methods The life spans of eight wild Carnaby’s Cockatoos that were more than 20 years old were compared with longevity records of long-lived birds recorded on the banding registers in Australia, USA, and UK. Key results Eight wild Carnaby’s Cockatoos were recorded living from 21 to 35 years, putting the species in the top 2% of all bird species in the wild for which there are longevity records. Conclusions The longevity of Carnaby’s Cockatoo is similar to that of long-lived seabirds. Implications Several years of immaturity and low reproductive output mean that Carnaby’s Cockatoos must be long-lived for the species to be sustainable. Conservation actions need to minimise threats to the lives of adult cockatoos.