The two Western Australian white-tailed black cockatoo species, the short-billed Carnaby's black cockatoo and this long-billed Baudin's black cockatoo, together with the yellow-tailed black cockatoo "Zanda funerea" of eastern Australia are allied in the genus "Zanda". Previously this genus was considered a subgenus of "Calyptorhynchus", with the red-tailed black cockatoo and glossy black cockatoos forming another subgenus, "Calyptorhynchus". The two groups are distinguished by differing juvenile food begging calls and the degree of sexual dimorphism. Males and females of the latter group have markedly different plumage, whereas those of the former have similar plumage.