Category Archives: Rosella
Eastern Rosella calling and dancing
This has turned out to be parrot weekend in our garden. Yesterday four black cockatoos dropped by. Today it was two Eastern Rosellas. This is the first time I’ve managed to get a photo of one of these lovely birds. Its characteristic call drew me to the window. There it was on our Scribbly Gum tree right outside the window, dancing and chattering to its mate:
Knowing that these birds usually go about in pairs, I looked for the other one but didn’t see it until they both flew away, several minutes later. (The mate was higher up in the tree, hidden by the foliage.)
At 30 cm in length, Eastern Rosellas are slightly smaller than the Crimson Rosellas that we see more often in our area. This still shot shows the bird in all its beauty:
Common name: Eastern Rosella
Scientific name: Platycercus eximius
Approximate length: 30 cm
Date spotted: 21 October 2018 (Spring)
Location: Allambie Heights, NSW, Australia
Crimson Rosella feeding on bottlebrush seeds
Usually when you spot a Crimson Rosella, there’s another one close by. This time, though, I could only see one. It was contentedly nibbling at the seeds on a bush – a bottlebrush, I think. [Update on 24 April: It’s not a bottlebrush, but Scrub She-oak, Allocasuarina distyla. Thanks to Carol Probets for the comment!]
The male and female Crimson Rosella look very similar, with the male being larger. I don’t know whether this one was male or female.
These birds are so pretty, even though this one was moulting, so a little shabby in places.
From the rear, the feathers are quite intricate in pattern:
Common name: Crimson Rosella
Scientific name: Platycercus elegans elegans
Approximate length: 35 cm
Date spotted: 12 February 2017 (Summer)
Location: Manly Dam Reserve, New South Wales, Australia: 33°46’58.4″S 151°15’11.8″E
Crimson Rosella in the wet
A Crimson Rosella hangs out on a wire in a Sydney rain storm.
(Click the image to zoom in.)
The Rosella looks a little miffed. The rain’s been going on a while, and I guess the bird’s had enough of it.
Common name: Crimson Rosella
Scientific name: Platycercus elegans elegans
Approximate length: 35 cm
Date spotted: 26 September 2015
Season: Spring
Location: Allambie Heights, New South Wales, Australia
Latitude/longitude: 33°46’13.9″S 151°15’39.2″E
A pair of Crimson Rosellas
Parrots galore! Two weeks ago I encountered a King Parrot on my walk in the bush. This week it’s a couple of Crimson Rosellas. They’re slightly smaller than a King Parrot, with different colouring.
Common name: Crimson Rosella
Scientific name: Platycercus elegans elegans
Approximate length: 35 cm
Date spotted: 27 September 2014
Season: Spring
Location: Manly Dam Reserve, New South Wales, Australia
Latitude/longitude: 33°46’36.6″S 151°15’16.2″E
Here’s a still shot of one of the birds, high up in a tree:
And another, snapped in a pool of sunlight:
