Eastern and Crimson Rosellas

I guess it is because they are relatively common, but it has always seemed a shame that we often take these two beautiful endemic parrots a little bit too much for granted. I’m guessing that many birdwatchers around the world would be envious of the fact that these two beauties can often be found in our backyards. Depending on which is your favourite field guide, there are 6 to 8 species of rosellas, all endemic to Australia.

The name ‘rosella’ has interesting etymological origins. It seems that as early settlers journeyed from Sydney Town to Paramatta, they passed through a district called Rose Hill (now a densely settled suburb of course). They would regularly glimpse flocks of small green, yellow, and black ‘parrakeets’ with a red head and white cheeks. The settlers referred to the birds as Rose Hillers. ‘Rose Hiller’ ultimately became corrupted into ‘rosella’ which is what the bird was eventually named and of course they were seeing flocks of what we now call Eastern Rosellas.

Eastern Rosella: Platycercus eximius. ‘Platycercus’ = broad tail, ‘eximius’ = excellent. No argument with that.

Eastern Rosella

The Eastern Rosella is probably a more urbanised bird than the crimson and is usually easily seen in our urban parks and reserves, backyards, etc., however, easterns are never far from lightly wooded habitat. They mostly feed on seeds of the heads of grasses and herbs at ground level. Eastern Rosellas are quite conspicuous when they are feeding on the ground, but despite their colourful plumage, they can fly into the canopy of a eucalypt and become nearly invisible.

Eastern Rosella checking its nesting hollow

There are several races of Eastern Rosellas. Our Gippsland birds are the nominate form. They are usually seen in small family groups. Eastern Rosellas are a sedentary species and are mostly restricted to the lower altitudes. Like all our parrots and many other species, Eastern Rosellas need a decent tree hollow in which to breed.

Crimson Rosella: Platycercus elegans. ‘Elegans’ = fine, elegant, or handsome. Some say all three.

Crimson Rosella

Crims like to inhabit tall timbered woodlands and rainforests. Periodically they will venture into farmland and urban reserves. It is not unusual to find Crimson Rosellas on the edge of alpine regions – or in coastal woodlands. They feed both on the ground and in the canopy. Eucalypt seed is a favourite food but fruits, lerp, and pollen are taken as well.

Crimson Rosella bathing in a puddle

There are several races, sub-species or forms of the Crimson Rosella. It is not unusual to come across an eastern-crimson hybrid.

Hybrid Eastern-Crimson (on the right)

Crimson Rosella - yellow form