AUSTRALIAN SPECIALISTS!

Crimson Rosella in Flight, Katoomba Region, Australia

CRIMSON ROSELLA (Platycercus elegans)

    There are three subspecies of crimson rosella; P. e. elegans is found from southeastern Queensland to southeastern South Australia, P. e. nigrescens is confined to northeastern Queensland from the Atherton Tableland south to the Eungella Range and inland to Herberton and Ravenshoe, while P. e. melanoptera is found only on Kangaroo Island (this third subspecies may not be valid (Forshaw and Cooper, 1981)).  It gets quite cold where these birds live and we have personally seen them in the snow!  Both P. e. elegans and P. e. nigrescens can be found in the US, however, very few aviculturists recognize the difference and it may be very difficult to locate pure strains of these subspecies.  They are difficult to distinguish as adults but are obviously different as juveniles; the juveniles of P. e. elegans are primarily green but the juveniles of P. e. nigrescens fledge with adult (red) plumage.  The green plumage of P. e. elegans juveniles is gradually lost and by their second year they are red.

       Crimson rosellas are one of the largest of the rosellas and can be fed a seed mixture that would normally be fed to something like a conure or Pionus.  They are very aggressive and breeding pairs must be kept separate from other birds, especially other rosellas.  In southern California this species normally nests in April and May.  Adult birds do not usually nest until they're second year.  They usually lay 4-6 eggs; one every other day until laying is complete.  Eggs are incubated for about 19 days before hatching.  Some pairs will double clutch but this is not the norm.  Crimson rosellas are not as flighty as other rosella species, but they do not make good pets.

    This bird can easily be seen in the wild in Australia.  The above picture was taken by myself when Bonnie and I took a birdwatching trip to the Blue Mountains (less than a two hour drive from Sydney).  This species seems to be doing well in the wild and has also adapted to suburban living!

Pricing

$550 per pair, $275 for singles.

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