Crimson Rosella

Wild Crimson Rosella
© David Cook [CC BY-NC 2.0] via Flickr

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Did You Know?

In the wild Crimson and Yellow Rosellas have hybridized (mixed species breeding), producing the Adelaide Rosella (P.e. fleurieuensis X e. subadelaidae X e. flaveolus).

Academic Research

Related publications: Platycercus elegans

Species Profile

Genus: Platycercus | Species: elegans

Size:

36cm (14 in)

Weight:

115-170g (4-6 oz)

Subspecies including nominate:

seven: P.e. elegans, P.e. nigrescens, P.e. melanopterus, P.e. fleurieuensis, P.e. subadelaidae, P.e. flaveolus; P.e. fleurieuensis x P.e. subadelaidae x P.e. flaveolus

Colour Adult:

P.e. elegans: Male-dark red in colour; cheek patches purple/blue; black mantle and back, spotted with dark red; purple/blue bend of wing, outer median and outer secondary feathers on wing coverts; dark blue tail with wide blue/white tip. Bill grey/white. Eye dark brown.  Female-as in male, but tail washed with dull green. Bill smaller with narrower upper mandible.
P.e. nigrescens: Both adults as in elegans but in general darker red; more spotting on mantle and back; smaller in size. 
P.e. melanopterus: Both adults as in elegans, but with narrower red margins to black feathers of mantle and back.
P.e. fleurieuensis: Both adults different from elegans by having deep orange/red plumage; grey/black mantle and back, spotted with dull orange/red; outer median and outer secondary wing coverts pale blue.
P.e. subadelaidae: Both adults orange/red forehead, crown and face, turning to brighter red on frontal band; dull yellow underparts, often washed dull orange/red; grey/black mantle and back spotted dull yellow; olive/yellow lower back to upper tail coverts.
P.e. flaveolus: Both adults bright pale yellow in colour; orange/red lores and frontal band; black mantle and back spotted yellow; olive/yellow rump and upper tail coverts.
P.e. fleurieuensis X e. subadelaidae X e. flaveolus: Both adults in general variable plumage; orange/red forehead, lores and crown; orange/yellow nape and sides of head; olive/yellow spotting on black mantle and back with orange/red tinge; olive/yellow lower back, mixing into orange/yellow on rump and upper tail coverts, where washed with orange/red; yellow underparts washed with orange/red; purple/blue tail with blue/white tip.

Colour Juvenile:

P.e. elegans: Bright olive/green in colour; red forehead, crown and borders to cheek patches, throat, upper breast, thighs and undertail coverts; dark olive/green tail; white underwing stripe.
P.e. nigrescens: As in adults but duller, darker red on head, rump and underparts; faint scalloping with black on feathers of breast; black mantle and back with red spotting and suffused with dull olive/green.
P.e. melanopterus: As in elegans.
P.e. fleurieuensis: As in elegans, but in general duller green and less olive; orange/red markings replacing red marks.
P.e. subadelaidae: As in fleurieuensis but paler green with more yellow in plumage; frontal band bright orange/red; purple/blue cheek patches bordered with dull orange/red; orange/red crown; dull orange/yellow throat, upper breast, thighs and undertail coverts washed with dull orange/red.
P.e. flaveolus: Frontal band narrow and pale orange/red; olive/green upperparts with minimal spotting on back and mantle, becoming dull yellow/olive on rump and upper tail coverts; dull olive/yellow underparts; white underwing stripe.
P.e. fleurieuensis X e. subadelaidae X e. flaveolus: In general dull olive/green; forehead, crown, throat, upper breast, thighs and under tail coverts in varying hues from orange/yellow to dull orange/red; yellow/olive rump and upper tail coverts; olive/green tail.

Call:

Calls in flight two syllable notes and mellow, piping sounds with upward inflection on second note. While perched emits soft twitters and clucks. When threatened notes become metallic and shrieks given when frightened.

Video Links:

More Information:

Avibase

Content Sources:

Wild Crimson Rosella
© David Cook [CC BY-NC 2.0] via Flickr

Photos

View in Gallery

Did You Know?

In the wild Crimson and Yellow Rosellas have hybridized (mixed species breeding), producing the Adelaide Rosella (P.e. fleurieuensis X e. subadelaidae X e. flaveolus).

Academic Research

Related publications: Platycercus elegans

Species Care

Captive Status:

Crimson Rosellas common, Yellow Rosellas not common.

Longevity:

10-15 yrs

Housing:

Walk-in enclosure, minimum length 3m (9.8 ft).

Diet:

Small seed mix such as: canary, oats, safflower and small amount of hemp; millet spray; limited sunflower seed, dry, soaked or sprouted; sprouted mung or other beans, cooked beans and lentils; boiled maize; green leaves such as: Swiss chard, dandelion, chickweed, lettuce, sowthistle; vegetables such as: carrot, celery, green beans, peas in the pod, zucchini or squash; fruit such as: apple, pear, banana, cactus fruits, pomegranate; nuts such as: walnuts, lightly cracked hazelnuts, pecans and roasted peanuts; complete pellet; also seeding grasses for Crimson Rosellas and green food daily for Yellow Rosellas.

Enrichment:

Provide with plenty of willow, elder, pine and other bird-safe branches to chew; provide bathing areas. Also likes to scratch around in dirt, so provide clean sand for this purpose.

Nest Box Size:

Vertical box 9" x 9" x 24" (22.9cm x 22.9cm x 61cm).

Clutch Size:

Crimson rosella: 5-8; Yellow rosella: 4-5

Incubation Time:

20 days

Fledging Age:

5 weeks

Hatch Weight:

Not recorded.

Peak Weight:

Not recorded.

Weaning Weight:

Not recorded.

Wild Crimson Rosella
© David Cook [CC BY-NC 2.0] via Flickr

Photos

View in Gallery

Did You Know?

In the wild Crimson and Yellow Rosellas have hybridized (mixed species breeding), producing the Adelaide Rosella (P.e. fleurieuensis X e. subadelaidae X e. flaveolus).

Academic Research

Related publications: Platycercus elegans

Species Wild Status

World Population:

Unknown, decreasing.

IUCN Red List Status:

Least Concern

CITES Listing:

Crimson Rosella: Appendix II; Yellow Rosella: Appendix II

Threat Summary:

Not globally threatened. Generally common to abundant, with the overall population of elegans, nigresecens and melanoptera thought to be in excess of 200,000 birds. In spite of this it has lost ground to land clearance, but slight range expansion seen in Bendigo area, Victoria and in South-East and Adelaide Plains regions of South Australia. Large numbers shot as crop pests during 1930s in Comooyne, New South Wales. Also, young are taken for aviculture and species is possibly predated by foxes, cats and dogs. Is common and widespread on Norfolk Island, where introduced in 1830s. Also introduced into the city of Wellington NZ where the species has flourished. P. flaveolus is fairly common at > 50,000 individuals despite its restricted range, but has suffered some losses due to large-scale irrigation schemes.

Range:

P.e. elegans: E and SE Australia, in CE Queensland, where populations are isolated, and from SE Queensland south to S Victoria and SE South Australia; also occurs in coastal populations north of Hastings River valley, NE New South Wales.
P.e. nigrescens: NE Queensland, from Windsor and Atherton Tablelands south the Seaview-Paluma Ranges.
P.e. melanopterus: Kangaroo Island, S Australia.
P.e. fleurieuensis: Restricted to Fleurieu Peninsula, SE South Australia, north to Bungala and Inman Rivers and east through lower Murray River region.
P.e. subadelaidae: Isolated to southern Flinders Ranges, E South Australia, north to lat. 32S; in south throughout Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Plains and lower Murray River region.
P.e. flaveolus: In Murray-Murrumbidgee-Lachlan Rivers system, from lower Murray River, SE South Australia, east to Riverina region, S New South Wales and north on Darling River to Kinchega National Park, W New South Wales.
P.e fleurieuensis X e. subadelaidae X e. flaveolus: Mount Lofty Ranges and Adelaide Plains, SE South Australia, south to Bungala and Inman Rivers, north to lat. 33S and east to lower Murray River region.

Habitat:

In north, found in upland forests, preferring margins of rainforest, tall secondary growth and closed Eucalypt forest; south of Hunter River valley is found in varied habitats at all altitudes. Crimson Rosellas may also go to open woodlands and cultivated areas. Yellow Rosellas are closely linked to riparian woodlands dominated by river red gums.

Wild Diet:

Crimson Rosellas: insect larvae, psyllids, blossoms, nectar and seeds of grasses and trees. Yellow Rosellas: seeds of Eucalypt and Acacia, fruits, blossoms, berries, psyllids and insects. Will take foodstuffs from native and introduced plants.

Ecology and Behaviour:

Young birds gather in flocks, whereas large groups of adults are rare. Both the Crimson and Yellow Rosellas behave similarily, however, Yellow Rosellas are more likely to been seen in the trees and they are less vocal, more shy. Crimson Rosellas are not shy and may be approached while feeding. Both species will readily drink at manmade irrigation sites.

Clutch and Egg Size:

Crimson Rosella: 5-8 rounded eggs, 29.5 x 24.0mm (1.1 x 0.9 in); Yellow Rosella: 4-5 rounded eggs, 27.0 x 23.0mm (1.0 x 0.9 in)

Breeding Season:

August-February depending on race and location. Nest is in hollow limb or trunk of tree.

Related Links:

Wikipedia

Wild Crimson Rosella
© David Cook [CC BY-NC 2.0] via Flickr

Photos

View in Gallery

Did You Know?

In the wild Crimson and Yellow Rosellas have hybridized (mixed species breeding), producing the Adelaide Rosella (P.e. fleurieuensis X e. subadelaidae X e. flaveolus).

Academic Research

Related publications: Platycercus elegans

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