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Pale-headed RosellaAlternate name(s): "Blue-cheeked Parrot", "Moreton Bay Rosella" Size: 28-32 cm Weight: 85-115 g |
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See Pale-headed
Rosella at Wikipedia ![]() |
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Photos |
Race "palliceps"
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ADULT |
Sex unknown |
Frontal view of a preening Pale-headed Rosella
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Goondiwindi, QLD, March 2018]
Near-frontal view of a Pale-headed Rosella
[Moree, NSW, October 2011]
Lateral view of a Pale-headed Rosella
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead Reserve, Anstead, QLD, November 2019]
Lateral view of a Pale-headed Rosella
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, December 2013]
Lateral/ventral view of a Pale-headed Rosella
(photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
[Near Moree, NSW, August 2013]
Near-dorsal view of a Pale-headed Rosella
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, July 2012]
Near-dorsal view of a Pale-headed Rosella
(photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Goondiwindi, QLD, February 2013]
Dorsal view of a Pale-headed Rosella (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, October 2012]
Dorsal view of a Pale-headed Rosella, different perspective
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, November 2013]
Dorsal view of a Pale-headed Rosella
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Moggill Regional Park, near Anstead, QLD, May 2019]
Pale-headed Rosella launching itself into the air
(photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
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PAIR |
Close-up view of a pair of Pale-headed Rosellas; note the all-white
cheek patches that characterize this race
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, November 2013]
Pair of Pale-headed Rosellas taking to flight
[Moree, NSW, April 2014]
Mixed pair of Pale-headed Rosella (front left) and a hybrid
between Pale-headed and Eastern Rosella (back right)
on a lawn; note how extremely pale the head of the bird on the
left is coloured, compared with other specimens shown on this page
[Moree, NSW, September 2008]
Mixed pair of Eastern
Rosella (bottom) and Pale-headed Rosella (top)
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, 2005]
Race "adscitus"
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ADULT |
Sex unknown |
Lateral view of a Pale-headed Rosella; note the white and violet-blue
cheek patch characterizing this race
(photo courtesy of R. Russell)
[Mount Molloy, QLD, December 2007]
Like all parrots,
Pale-headed Rosellas like to regularly have a bath (photo
courtesy of R. Russell)
[Mount Molloy, QLD, November 2012]
Hybrids
Pale-headed Rosellas are known to hybridise with Eastern Rosellas.
Frontal view of a hybrid Eastern/Pale-headed Rosella; here
the Eastern Rosella
influence is dominant
(click on image to see the bird with its head turned the other way)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2011]
Near-frontal view of a hybrid Eastern/Pale-headed Rosella
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2022]
Lateral view of a hybrid Eastern/Pale-headed Rosella
[Near Wee Waa, NSW, September 2012]
Lateral view of a hybrid
Eastern/Pale-headed Rosella; here the Pale-headed Rosella
influence is dominant
(click on image to see the bird with its head turned the other way)
[Near Bellata, NSW, February 2016]
Near-dorsal view of a hybrid Eastern/Pale-headed Rosella, with
predominantly Pale-headed Rosella heritage
(photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
[Moree, NSW, April 2013]
Here a very young Rosella of mixed parentage. It is a
mix between Eastern
Rosella and Pale-headed Rosella
[Near Narrabri, NSW, 2006]
A portrait of the little chick is available here.
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Breeding information |
Breeding season: Aug - Jan | Eggs: 4 - 8 | Incubation period: 19-20 days | Fledging age: ca. 28 days |
In suitable conditions, especially after significant rainfall in the drier parts of their range, Pale-headed Rosellas can also breed in the timeframe March-August.
Nest building: ? | Incubation: Female | Dependent care: Female/male |
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Nest |
"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal] |
Type: Tree hollow | Material: Wood chip lining | Height above ground: 5? - 20 m |
Pale-headed Rosella inspecting a potential nest hollow (photo
courtesy of C. Hayne)
[Near Moree, NSW, August 2013]
Pale-headed Rosella inspecting a potential nesting hollow outside
the regular breeding season, after copious rainfall (photo courtesy
of R. Druce)
[Goondiwindi, QLD, February 2013]
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Eggs |
"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay] |
Size: 27 x 22 mm | Colour: White | Shape: Rounded |
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Behaviour |
Social behaviour: Territorial | Mobility: Sedentary/dispersive | Elementary unit: Pair |
In the region where their habitats overlap, i.e. northern NSW and southern QLD, Eastern Rosellas and Pale-headed Rosellas can interbreed. We have seen several such mixed couples so far (see above).
We have not seen a Pale-headed Rosella yet near Narrabri that did not have an Eastern Rosella as partner.
bonding ritual
of a pair of hybrid Eastern/Pale-headed Rosellas;
since she will incubate the eggs, he will have to feed her; she
tests his reliability by begging for food and being fed prior
to laying eggs
[Near Wee Waa, NSW, September 2012]
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Food, Diet |
Adults: Seeds | Dependents: Regurgitated seeds | Water intake: Daily |
Like many parrots, Pale-headed Rosellas are seed-eaters; primarily they feed on grass seeds.
Frontal view of a Pale-headed Rosella feeding on fruit
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Moggill Regional Park, near Anstead, QLD, May 2019]
Pale-headed Rosella feeding on what looks like buds
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Ashmore, Gold Coast, QLD, October 2019]
Pale-headed Rosella feeding on what looks like buds
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Ashmore, Gold Coast, QLD, October 2019]
Lateral view of a Pale-headed Rosella feeding on the seeds of a
grevillea
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Ashmore, Gold Coast, QLD, September 2016]
Lateral view of a Pale-headed Rosella feeding in a
grevillea
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, June 2013]
Lateral view of a Pale-headed Rosella feeding on fruit
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Moggill Regional Park, near Anstead, QLD, May 2019]
Lateral view of a Pale-headed Rosella drinking water
(photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
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Call(s)/Song |
For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own;
comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.
paleros_art_20131204.m4a |
palliceps (SE QLD) |
Contact calls(?) | © ART | |
paleros_art_20131118.m4a |
palliceps (SE QLD) |
Contact calls(?) | © ART | |
paleros_20140424.mp3 |
palliceps (NW NSW) |
Pair Q&A | © MD | |
paleros_art_20131213.mp3 |
palliceps (SE QLD) |
Calling mate | © ART | |
paleros_20191002.m4a |
palliceps (NW NSW) |
Calling mate | © MD | |
paleros_art_20131119.m4a |
palliceps (SE QLD) |
Alarm calls | © ART | |
paleros_art_20141206.mp3 |
palliceps (SE QLD) |
Warning call/departure | © ART | |
paleros_art_20131130.m4a |
palliceps (SE QLD) |
Pair chatter | © ART | |
paleros_art_20131217.m4a |
palliceps (SE QLD) |
Various | © ART | |
paleros_art_20131217_2.m4a |
palliceps (SE QLD) |
Various | © ART | |
paleros_20141109.mp3 |
palliceps (NW NSW) |
? | © MD |
More Pale-headed Rosella sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.