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12

Green Rosella (Platycercus caledonicus) Alternate name(s): "Tasmanian Rosella", "Yellow-bellied Parakeet", "Green Parrot" Size: 32-38 cm Weight: 140 g (average)

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Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Green Rosellas are medium-sized parrots. They have a red frons, pale-blue cheeks and an otherwise yellow head and front (chest, belly, vent). The back from the mantle downwards, including the uppertail, is dark-green, with dark-green and black scalloped upperwings that have blue flight feathers. Female Green Rosellas have somewhat duller colours, with more of a green tinge than males, who have more yellow hues in their plumage. The bill is light-grey, the irises are dark and the legs and feet are grey. Juveniles are bottle-green where adult birds are more yellowish. Twitcher's tip Compared to Yellow Rosellas, Green Rosellas have green-and-black backs, rather than yellow-and-black.

Taxonomy, classification See Green Rosella at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed based on sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Green Rosella is available HERE . There are two races of Green Rosellas, both of which are endemic to Tasmania and nearby islands in Bass Strait. Nominate race "caledonicus" is found all over Tasmania, plus other, smaller islands. Race "brownii" is found primarily in the southern half of King Island (occasionally also in the northern half). Green Rosellas have a preference for dense forest in high rainfall areas (including mountainous regions, but are also found in farmland with scattered trees and gardens.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "caledonicus" R. Plumtree reports spotting Green Rosellas, race "caledonicus", at St. Helens, TAS, in January 2007. D. Wilczynska spotted Green Rosellas, race "caledonicus", 25 km North of Launceston, TAS, in March 2015. B. Hensen reports spotting Green Rosellas, race "caledonicus", on Bruny Island, TAS, in March 2016.

Photos

Race "caledonicus"

ADULT

MALE

Full-frontal view of a male Green Rosella; note the brighter, more yellowish tints of its plumage compared to its partner, which is visible [albeit out of focus] in the background (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Bruny Island, TAS, March 2016]

Pair of Green Rosellas on the ground; male on the left, female on the right (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[St. Helens, Tasmania, January 2007]

Lateral view of a male Green Rosella in captivity (photo courtesy of C. Nugent)

FEMALE

Ventral view of a female Green Rosella; note the much greener plumage compared to the males' (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Bruny Island, TAS, March 2016]

Lateral view of a female Green Rosella in captivity (photo courtesy of C. Nugent)

Lateral view of a Green Rosella (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[St. Helens, Tasmania, January 2007]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Lateral view of an immature Green Rosellas in a tree; note the green front characterizing this bird as immature (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Launceston, Tasmania, March 2015]

Dorsal view of an immature Green Rosellas in a tree (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Launceston, Tasmania, March 2015]

Food, Diet

Like many parrots, Green Rosellas are seed-eaters; primarily they feed on grass seeds.

Full-frontal view of a male Green Rosella munching on a seed cone (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Bruny Island, TAS, March 2016]

Lateral view of an immature Green Rosella feeding on what looks like grass flowers or unripe seeds (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Launceston, Tasmania, March 2015]

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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