A rare yellow-tailed black cockatoo with predominantly yellow plumage, caused by a genetic condition called leucism, has been spotted in a nature reserve in the southern Australian Capital Territory. The bird was photographed by Eleanor Cotterell, a healthcare worker and keen birdwatcher from Tuggeranong, who declined to reveal the exact location due to intense interest.
Cotterell said she heard the cockatoos and followed the noise, finding a group of 10 to 15 birds. She noticed the unusually coloured individual standing out, especially under overcast conditions. 'I was totally amazed by its appearance,' she said. She shared the images with the National Parks Association of the ACT, which posted them on Facebook, attracting 28,000 likes and 2,600 shares.
Association employee Kelly Allison nicknamed the bird Limoncello, after the yellow Italian lemon liqueur. 'We wanted something that was right for a bird that spectacular,' she said. Canberra Birds president Kim Farley explained that the yellow plumage is an example of leucism, a natural genetic condition that occurs in many species. 'This particular bird looks to be in fine form – healthy and alert,' Farley said.
A second photographer, who preferred to remain anonymous, captured images of the same or a similar bird in November 2024. They observed it foraging on the ground with other yellow-tailed black cockatoos and noted it appeared to be included in the social group. The interest in Limoncello recalls the 2013 sighting of an albino kangaroo in Namadgi National Park, which made global headlines.
