Red-tailed black-cockatoos occur in the drier parts of Australia, and usually flying in large flocks. They use their strong beaks to open woody seed capsules, and muscular tongues to extract the seed kernels.
They also feast on fruits, nectar, flowers and insects. Most cockatoos are left-footed, grasping food items with their left foot. They nest in cavities, favouring eucalyptus trees.