About the Eastern Rosella
The eastern rosella is a parrot native and endemic to south-eastern Australia. It was first introduced to New Zealand in cages, and individuals were subsequently intentionally released or accidentally escaped into the wild. In New Zealand, it is now established in the North Island and in the hills around Dunedin in the South Island.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
The length of eastern rosella is 30 cm (12 in). Its cheeks are white, and it has a red-coloured head. The beak is white, and the irises are brown. Its upper breast is red, and its lower breast is yellow and fades to pale green over the abdomen. The black feathers on the back and shoulders have yellowish and greenish margins which gives the scalloped look that differs between the sexes and subspecies. The wings and lateral tail feathers are bluish, the tail is dark green, and the legs are grey.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in France, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Chile, Martinique, United States, Czechia, United Kingdom, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal.
When to see it
Peak activity in October · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Crimson RosellaPlatycercus elegansPlatycercus elegans is a medium-sized Australian parrot at 36 cm (14 in) long, much of which is tail.
Pale-headed RosellaPlatycercus adscitusThe pale-headed rosella is 33 cm (13 in) long, which includes the 15 cm length of its tail.
Green RosellaPlatycercus caledonicusThe green rosella is the largest member of the rosella genus.
Side by side: Crimson Rosella vs Eastern Rosella
Learn the Eastern Rosella for real
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