Eastern Rosellas aka Common Rosellas
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The Eastern Rosella, Platycercus eximius, is a parrot native to southeast Australia and Tasmania. It has also been introduced to New Zealand.
Like just about Rosellas, the Eastern Rosella makes a strikingly beautiful and relatively quiet aviary occupant. It also has become increasingly popular as a pet.
The Eastern Rosella is found in lightly wooded country. In eats natural habit it eats a variety of grass seeds and fruits.
Description:
The Eastern Rosella averages 28 - 32 cm (11 - 12.8 inches) in length - the average being 30 cm or 11.8 inches. The average weight is 99 g or 3.5 oz.
This colorful rosella has a red head, upper breast and under tail-coverts. The cheeks are white. The lower breast is yellow becoming yellowish-green on the abdomen. The feathers of the lower breast and abdomen have a fine dark edging. The nape, back and shoulder feathers are black with yellowish-green edging. The inner median wing-coverts are black. The bend of the wing and outer median wing-coverts are blue. The secondary-coverts are pale blue, and the secondaries, outer webs at base of primaries (= longest wing feathers) and under wing-coverts are blue. The lower back and upper tail-coverts are pale green with a fine dark edging. The upperside of the middle tail-feathers are dark green with a narrow dark blue edging. The outer tail-feathers are pale blue with a dark blue base and pale tips. The tail underside is pale bluish. The bill is light grey-horn color. They have narrow grey to dark grey eye rings. The irises are dark brown and the feet are grey.
The female is on average smaller, the plumage is a duller red and they have a narrower bill. The edging to the back feathers is dull green. The whitish under-wing stripe is present in many females.
Immature birds are similar to female, but they have a duller plumage. The back of the crown and nape are green. The pale under-wing stripe is present. Young birds attain the adult coloration after their second molt - when they are about 12 to 16 months old. At that time they also become sexually mature.
Diet:
A good Rosella diet should consist of canary seed, a mixture of millets, sunflower and safflower. Most people will use a Cockatiel seed mix with added Canary seed. They also enjoy fresh fruits & veggies such as apples, blackberries, oranges, cucumbers, sweet potato and mango. Kale, boiled egg can also be offered. I find that our Crimson Rosellas tend to appreciate fresh foods while the Golden Mantles will take bits and pieces leaving leftovers.
Sprouted or germinated seeds are usually more easily accepted by "seed addicts" than fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Sprouted seeds are healthier as the sprouting changes and enhances the nutritional quality and value of seeds and grains. Sprouted seeds are lower in fat, as the process of sprouting utilizes the fat in the seed to start the growing process - thus reducing the fat stored in the seeds.
- Sprouted seeds will help balance your bird’s diet by adding a nutritious supply of high in vegetable proteins, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and chlorophyll.
- Soaked and germinated "oil" seeds, like niger and rape seeds, are rich in protein and carbohydrates; while "starch" seeds, such as canary and millets, are rich in carbohydrates, but lower in protein.
- It is in invaluable food at all times; however, it is especially important for breeding or molting birds. Sprouted seeds also serve as a great rearing and weaning food as the softened shell is easier to break by chicks and gets them used to the texture of seeds.
- Click here for more information on bird nutrition.
Breeding:
Rosellas are easy to breed; they are robust, do not fear cold but need a dry shelter. The breeding season usually starts in March or April (in Australia from August through March). When courting the male will bow forward low on the perch while sounding out the mating calls. If approved the hen will do the same and they can often be seen feeding each other before mating.
The Eastern Rosella female typically lays 4 to 9 eggs (usually 5) that she incubates alone for about 18 - 21 days. During the incubation period she is fed by her mate. Established pairs can be prolific and may produce two to three clutches per season - especially if their young are pulled for handfeeding and they have plenty of food available. However, typically they raise one to two clutches per year. During the incubation period she is fed by her mate. After hatching chicks will leave the nest at about 6 weeks old.
Some breeders prefer to pull babies at 2-3 weeks old for handfeeding. This will allow parents to get started on another clutch. Handfed Rosellas can still be a bit flighty and care should be taken to ensure the wings stay clipped to avoid injury. The young will need daily attention to remain tame.
Housing:
Rosellas do best in an aviary setting or long flight cages as they are avid flyers. It is recommended that couples are kept alone in an aviary, and to even avoid keeping two couples in two contiguous aviaries - as they may be aggressive and get distracted from breeding. If this separation is not possible given the space and resources that you have, it is recommended to have the walls double wired with a separation of about 3 inches (75mm) or even place a solid wall between the neighbors. You also need to have available aviary space for the young birds as they should be separated as soon as they are fully independent of their parents.
Rosellas like to chew on wood therefore metal frames with strong wire / mesh is recommended.
Minimum aviary size should be about:
Width: 40 inches (1000mm) - 47 inches (1200 mm)
Length: 16 feet (5000 mm)
Height: 7 feet (2100 mm)
The roof should be covered with transparent or opaque corrugated roofing material. For easy maintenance and sanitation, a concrete floor that can be hosed down daily is recommended.
Nest Box:
In their natural habitat, they nest in a tree cavity, high above the ground, filled with chips or turf. In captivity, a standard rosella nest box size would be 10" x 11" x 24". Rosellas like their nesting place to be high up -- ideal would be 5 to 10 meters - or as high as the aviary allows. The nest log or box should be placed at the rear of the aviary in a sheltered location to protect it from the elements and provide privacy.
- Please click here for in-depth information on breeding.
- Click here for average clutch sizes and incubation data for the different rosella species.
Species: Scientific: Platycercus eximius eximius ... English: Eastern Rosella, Common Rosella, Bundullock ... Dutch: Prachtrosella ... German: Rosellasittich ... French: Rosella Orientale ... Sub-Species / Races Including Nominate: ceciliae, eximius, diemenensis
Sub-species:
Tasmanian Rosellas: Please scroll up for information on care and breeding.
Species: Scientific: Platycercus eximius diemenensis ... English: Tasmanian Rosella ... Dutch: Tasmaanse Rosella ... German: Tasmanischer Rosella ... French: Rosella de Tasmanië
Description: As eximius, but head and upper breast darker red; white patch to cheek much larger. Female with same distinguishing features as nominate form. ... Length: 30 cm (12 ins)
Distribution: Tasmania
Related Websites: Lexicon of Parrots (please scroll down to no. 3 and click on link to view photo)
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