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Pale-headed Rosella (Platycercus adscitus) Alternate name(s): "Blue-cheeked Parrot", "Moreton Bay Rosella" Size: 28-32 cm Weight: 85-115 g

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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 Pale-headed Rosellas are medium-sized parrots. Except for white cheeks, Pale-headed Rosellas have all-yellow heads. There is a blue band under the cheeks, leading to a yellow chest. The belly is light-blue, while the vent is red. The mantle is black-and-yellow scalloped, the rump is pale-blue. The flight feathers are deep-blue. The uppertail is turquoise-green, the undertail light-blue. The irises are dark, the bill is light-grey, while the legs and feet are grey.

Taxonomy, classification See Pale-headed Rosella at Wikipedia . Click here for classification information Pale-headed Rosellas and Eastern Rosellas are now considered by most to be separate species.

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Pale-headed Rosella is available HERE . Pale-headed Rosellas are endemic to Australia. They populate the entire eastern half of QLD, in a strip that is about 300-500 km wide, including all of Cape York peninsula and the hills of the Great Dividing Range, down to just South of the NSW/QLD border. After substantial inland rainfall they can extend their range out into the semi-arid interior of central and southern QLD and northern NSW. From about the NSW/QLD border to roughly the base of Cape York peninsula race "palliceps" is found; there is a large hybrid zone with race "adscitus", which - in its pure form - is found only on Cape York peninsula. At the borderline of their ranges, the population densities of both Pale-headed Rosella and Eastern Rosella drop quite rapidly. For example, at Narrabri, NSW, Eastern Rosellas outnumber Pale-headed Rosellas at least 10:1, while at Moree, NSW, just 100 km further North, it is the other way round. There is also an introduced population of Pale-headed Rosellas around Hobart, TAS. Pale-headed Rosellas are usually found in open forest, often with grassy undergrowth. They adapt well to the presence of humans and are also found on farms or in urban parks and gardens. Twitcher's tip Since they can interbreed, Eastern Rosellas and Pale-headed Rosellas are in some field guides considered different races of the same species.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "palliceps" We live in a region, just South of the NSW/QLD border, where the ranges of Pale-headed Rosellas, race "palliceps", and Eastern Rosellas, overlap and where they are known to interbreed. Pale-headed Rosellas, race "palliceps", are seen in the Narrabri area more infrequently than Eastern Rosellas. So far, pure-bred Pale-headed Rosellas, race "palliceps", have been spotted by us only occasionally, mostly 25 km West of Narrabri. They are occasionally also seen in Eulah Creek, 20 km East of Narrabri, e.g. in August 2010. C. Hayne reports that Pale-headed Rosellas, race "palliceps", are common to abundant in Moree, NSW. Pale-headed Rosellas, race "palliceps", were spotted by us in various locations throughout southern and central QLD, including Girraween NP in southern QLD, in July 2009. Here a hybrid was observed between a Crimson Rosella and a Pale-headed Rosella. The hybrid, as seen from behind, had the wing and body plumage of a Crimson Rosella, but the head and nape of the neck were yellow, as a Pale-headed Rosella's. A single Pale-headed Rosella, race "palliceps", was spotted by us 30 km West of Burren Junction, NSW, in October 2010. In June 2012 also found 5 km West of Walgett, NSW, on the banks of the Barwon River. R. Druce and M. Eaton report spotting Pale-headed Rosellas, race "palliceps", in Goondiwindi, southern QLD, in February 2013 and March 2018, respectively. A. Ross-Taylor reports sighting Pale-headed Rosellas, race "palliceps", regularly at Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD. C. Linfoot reports finding Pale-headed Rosellas, race "palliceps", in Hervey Range, near Townsville, QLD. This location is near the transition zone to the northern race "adscitus", described below. Race "adscitus" R. Russell reports finding Pale-headed Rosellas, race "adscitus", regularly at Mount Molloy, QLD. M. Eaton spotted a Pale-headed Rosella, race "adscitus", at Kutini Payamu (Iron Range) NP, Cape York peninsula, QLD, in June 2024.

Photos

Race "palliceps"

ADULT

PAIR

Close-up frontal/near-lateral 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]

Frontal/lateral view of a pair of Pale-headed Rosellas taking to flight
[Moree, NSW, April 2014]

Lateral view of a mixed pair of a Pale-headed Rosella with an Eastern Rosella
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, 2004]

Lateral view of a mixed pair of Pale-headed Rosella (front left) and a hybrid between Pale-headed and Eastern Rosella (back right) on a lawn
[Moree, NSW, September 2008]

Sex unknown

Close-up frontal view of a Pale-headed Rosella (photo courtesy of C. Linfoot)
[Hervey Range, near Townsville, QLD, September 2022]

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 view of a Pale-headed Rosella (photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Goondiwindi, QLD, February 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 looking backwards (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, July 2012]

Dorsal view of a Pale-headed Rosella looking sideways (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, October 2012]

Dorsal view of a Pale-headed Rosella looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Moggill Regional Park, near Anstead, QLD, May 2019]

Dorsal view of a Pale-headed Rosella (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, November 2013]

Near-lateral view of a Pale-headed Rosella launching itself into the air (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Pale-headed Rosella having a good stretch - note the red flecks on its crown, combined with the horn-coloured bill (photo courtesy of C. Linfoot)
[Hervey Range, near Townsville, QLD, September 2022]

Hybrids

Pale-headed Rosellas are known to hybridise with Eastern Rosellas.

Frontal view of a hybrid Eastern/Pale-headed Rosella looking sideways; here the Eastern Rosella influence is dominant
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Ashmore, Gold Coast, QLD, January 2024]

Near-frontal view of a hybrid Eastern/Pale-headed Rosella
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2022]

Close-up near-lateral view of a hybrid Eastern/Pale-headed Rosella looking sideways (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Ashmore, Gold Coast, QLD, August 2024]

Close-up near-lateral portrait of a hybrid Eastern/Pale-headed Rosella (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Ashmore, Gold Coast, QLD, August 2024]

Close-up near-lateral view of a hybrid Eastern/Pale-headed Rosella (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Ashmore, Gold Coast, QLD, August 2024]

Lateral view onto the back of a hybrid Eastern/Pale-headed Rosella; here the Pale-headed Rosella influence is dominant
[Near Bellata, NSW, February 2016]

Lateral view of a hybrid Pale-headed/Eastern Rosella
[Near Wee Waa, NSW, September 2012]

Near-dorsal view of a juvenile hybrid Eastern/Pale-headed Rosella, with predominantly Pale-headed Rosella heritage
(photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
[Moree, NSW, April 2013]

Lateral view of a fledgling mix between a Pale-headed Rosella and an Eastern Rosella that has left its nest too soon
[Near Narrabri, NSW, 2006]

Race "adscitus"

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]

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

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]

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

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 many such mixed couples.

We have not seen a Pale-headed Rosella yet near Narrabri that did not have an Eastern Rosella as partner.

Like other species of parrots and cockatoos, female Pale-headed Rosellas test the mettle of their partners in a bonding ritual. Since she will incubate the eggs, he will have to feed her; she tests his reliability as provider by begging for food and being fed prior to allowing him to mate with her.

Ventral view of a male in a mixed pair of Eastern/Pale-headed Rosellas feeding his partner as part of a bonding ritual
[Near Wee Waa, NSW, September 2012]

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)

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_me_20240614.m4a	adscitus (Far-N QLD)	Warning/departure	© ME
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_20240525.m4a	palliceps (NW NSW)	Various	© MD
paleros_20141109.mp3	palliceps (NW NSW)	?	© MD

More Pale-headed Rosella sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

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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