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Eastern RosellaAlternative names: "White-cheeked Rosella", "Rosehill Parakeet", "Nonpareil Parrot" Size: 29-33 cm |
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Habitat |
(for details refer to a field guide) |
Eastern Rosellas populate VIC and about the eastern half of NSW, in a strip that is about 300-500 km wide, including the Great Dividing Range and the Australian Alps. They are also found in the Murray River catchment, up to about Adelaide in the west. After substantial inland rainfall they can extend their range out into the semi-arid interior of northern NSW. They are also found in the eastern half of Tasmania.
Eastern Rosellas are usually found in open forest, often with grassy undergrowth. They adapt well to the presence of humans and are also found on farms or in urban parks and gardens.
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Twitcher's tip |
Since they can interbreed, Eastern Rosellas and Pale-headed Rosellas are in some field guides considered different races of the same species.
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Sightings |
Eastern Rosellas can be seen in the Narrabri area on a regular basis. However, they are more common in the hill ranges east of Narrabri. In April 2006 we saw hundreds of them on a trip through the Nandewar range, in the area from roughly Barraba to the Upper Horton Valley.
Sighted by us on a trip to the east of the Great Dividing Range, in the area from Armidale to Dorrigo and Urunga, NSW.
They are usually found around humans more frequently in the winter season; during the summer they are seen much less frequently, even in times of water shortage in nature.
In 2007 the first fledglings were seen in late August, at roughly the same time as those of various ducks.
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Photos |
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Frontal view of an Eastern Rosella
Lateral view of an Eastern Rosella
The same bird as above, now with its head turned
Eastern Rosella taking a bath
Lateral view of an immature Eastern Rosella
Here an immature bird feasting on the seeds of a weed growing
in our lawn
View from behind of an immature Eastern Rosella
Hybrids
Eastern Rosellas are known to hybridise with Pale-headed Rosellas.
Almost frontal view of a hybrid Eastern/Pale-headed Rosella (click on image to see the bird with its head turned the other way)
Lateral view of a hybrid checking whether all is clear
before approaching a waterhole
View from behind of a hybrid Eastern/Pale-headed Rosella
Slightly different posture
Here a very young Rosella of mixed parentage, 25 km west of
Narrabri, NSW. It is a mix between an Eastern Rosella and a
Pale-headed Rosella
A portrait of the little chick is available here.
Although not 100% sure, because unable to obtain a photo for identification at the time, we think that we have also spotted a hybrid between an Eastern Rosella and a Crimson Rosella at Girraween NP (southern QLD) in July 2009.
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Behaviour |
| Social behaviour: Territorial | Mobility: Sedentary/dispersive | Elementary unit: Pair |
In the region where their habitats overlap, i.e. northern NSW and southern QLD, Eastern Rosellas and Pale-headed Rosellas can interbreed (see above). The hybrids have intermediate colours (the size and colour of the yellow and red patches on their heads and breasts vary).
Pair of Eastern Rosella (bottom) and Pale-headed Rosella
(top) in a White Cedar tree, 20 km south of Narrabri, NSW
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Food |
Like many parrots, Eastern Rosellas are seed-eaters; primarily they feed on grass seeds. And like many other birds Eastern Rosellas are opportunistic. The photos below show a bird feeding on the seeds of a decorative tree.
Eastern Rosella reaching for seeds
This explains why there were hardly any seeds left on the tree...
Also found to be taking nectar from the flowers of Emu bushes.
