Eastern Rosella Parrot
(Platycercus eximius) 		 

Family: Psittacidae, and member of the sub-family Psittacinae. The genus Platycercus means “broad” or “flat-tailed.” This species is one of eight rosella parrots with characteristic cheek-patches and mottling on their backs. There are three subspecies of Platycercus eximius.

Range: southeastern Australia, Tasmania and introduced to New Zealand

 Range Map

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Habitat
lightly wooded lands including savanna, forest, farmlands, gardens and parks		 Size:
about 12 inches (30 cm) in length and weighs about 4 ounces (115 g)		 Description:
P. eximius is a medium-size parrot. Females resemble males but with slightly duller coloration. Rosellas have red heads and breast, with white cheek patches. Their lower breast is yellow changing to green on abdomen and rump. They have black-edged, mottled feathers, with yellow or greenish-yellow coloration on back and wings. The underwing coverts and outer flight feathers are blue. A rosella’s tail feathers are green to blue with red undertail coverts. The bill and feet are gray.		 Life Span
between 4 - 12 years

Diet:
eats a wide variety of grains or seeds, fruits or berries, nectar or blossoms, insects and their larvae or eggs.

Status: abundant; not threatened

Fascinating Facts

  • Rosella parrots acquired their name from early settlers who encountered these birds near Rose Hill, a Sydney suburb. Settlers originally called them “Rose Hillers!”
  • These birds are also called the white-cheeked rosella, red-headed rosella, golden-mantled rosella and rosella parakeet!

* Woodland Park Zoo identifies an animal or plant endangered if it is listed as endangered (in any part of its range) on the federal list of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants, or if it is listed on Appendix I to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

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