The Pale Headed Rosella
The Pale-headed Rosella is a medium-sized, broad-tailed parrot, with a pale head and all white, or blue and white cheek patches. The underbelly is mainly blue, with red under the tail. The back is yellow with dark flecks. The female is similar, though slightly duller, with an off-white underwing stripe. There is marked geographical variation, with differences in the depth of colour and the facial patch. Unlike the rainbow lorikeet, the pale headed rosella is shy and retiring and flies off even if you approach from a distance. The photos I have taken here are taken from inside the house - the reflection of light on the windows obscuring my presence from the timid birds.
Scientific Name: Platycercus adscitus palliceps
Common Name/s: PALE HEADED ROSELLA, MEALY ROSELLA.
Sub Species: Pale headed Rosella is a sub-species of the Blue cheeked Rosella Platycercus adscitus adscitus
Origin / Distribution: North-eastern New South Wales and most of Queensland up to about Cooktown.
Habitat In Wild: Occupy a diverse range of habitats from arid scrublands to Savannah woodlands and grasslands. Several breeding pairs of rosellas lve in the Toohey Forest bordering my home. Chuck and Chase definately have the penthouse suite!
Status In Wild: Secure, subject to preservation of its preferred habitat.
Status In (Australian) Captivity: Secure
Feeding: Eats various types of seeds as well as leaves, honey and insects.
Breeding/Nesting: Nest lined with a bed of chipped rotten wood. Breeding is from September to January and nests in holes in trees, fallen timber, fence posts and old burrows. In our case the parrots live in the penthouse suite - the nest lined with mashed paper insulation in the ceiling - free of the vagaries of wind and the elements! During the incubation period the female is fed by her mate. They normally nest in a wooden nest, high above the ground, filled with chips or turf Chuck has found the equivalent of millionaire row.
The female lays 5 to 6 eggs that she incubates alone for about 21 days. During the incubation period she is fed by her mate.
Movement: Often foraging and feeding on the ground in groups or family pairs, but can also feed in the treetops. Groups rarely exceed five birds.
Age To Sexual Maturity: Pale headed Rosella hens take up to 2 - 3 years to reach full sexual maturity.
Male v Female: Females are duller on the head and breast than males, but otherwise, the sexes are similar. The breeding pair have a white head, the feathers of the back and wings are black with bright yellow. Their rump and upper tail is blue-green with the central tail feathers, like the chest and wings being blue. The underneath of the tail area is red. Colour varities of this breeding couple are common in the pale headed rosella.
Lifespan (estimate): approx 15 or more years
Length: Approx. 300 mm (or approx. 12 inches) including 150mm tail
Weight: Approx. 110 gms (or approx. 4.5 ozs)
Call/Song: Loud kwink-kwink- kwink, a metallic piping note, a strident screech and subdued chattering are all calls of the Pale Headed Rosella.
Nesting months: August to November
Map right: region in which the pale headed rosella is found
Birds sell commercially for about $200 each but Chuck and Chel will always be free and never be captured. As it should be!
Reference Books
Crome, F. and Shields, J. 1992. Parrots and Pigeons of Australia. Angus and Robertson/National Photographic Index of Australian Wildlife, Sydney.
Higgins, P.J. (ed) 1999. Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds, Volume 4 (Parrots to Dollarbird). Oxford University Press, Melbourne.
Beruldsen, G 2003. Australian Birds: Their Nests and Eggs. Self-published, Queensland.