A Red tailed black cockatoo is a glossy black cockatoo with a large crest that it raises when excited or frightened. The male has bright red outer feathers - hence its name - but the female has a tail with orange or yellow feathers. The female also has more yellow on its under-parts. The red-tailed black cockatoo is about 55cm in length, and weighs between 570 and 880 grams.

An endangered bird, it is only found in south-western Victoria and south-eastern South Australia.

There are several factors contributing to it being endangered. Bushfires are a problem, as they reduce its habitat, particularly large trees with hollows for nesting, and also reduce its food source. Agriculture has also resulted in loss of habitat. Surprisingly, the redtailed black cockatoo is largely subject to predation by the brushtailed possum which, although herbivorous, take over the cockatoo's nests.