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Northern Rosella  (Platycercus venustus)

Also Known As: Brown's Rosella or Parakeet, Smutty Rosella or Parakeet
 
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Northern Rosella, Edith Falls, Northern Territory

Credit: © Ian Montgomery | http://birdway.com.au
 
photos Photos videoVideo 1
 
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Did You Know?
The origin of the word "rosella" supposedly came from a misspelling of "Rosetta Parrots", a name possibly given to the birds after the Christian name of the wife of George Fife Angas, a pioneer of Southern Australia.

Status in the Wild
World Population:
About 50,000

Range:
P.v. venustus: NW Queensland west through coastal Northern Territory to Victoria River.
P.v. hilli: Kimberley division of W Australia east to Victoria River, NW Northern Territory.


Habitat:
Found up to 500-600m (1640-1968 ft), in a range of areas including savanna and monsoon woodland with Callitris sp., paperbark Melaleuca habitats, riverine woodland, scrub, clearings, roadsides, cultivated areas, urban areas, by creeks in hill country and mangroves.

Threat Summary:
Unknown, but appears to be declining in some parts of its range.

IUCN Rating:
Least concern

Wild Diet:
Eats fruits, buds, blossoms, nectar and the seeds of acacia, eucalypts, grasses and paperbark.

CITES Rating:
Appendix II

Ecology:
Stays in one area. Is shy and usually found in small, unseen groups, but is noisier at the start of breeding season. Tends to stay in the trees more than other rosellas.

Clutch and Egg Size:
2-4 rounded eggs, 25.5 x 20.5mm (1 x 0.8 in).

Breeding Season:
May-September

Links to Other Project(s):
http://www.kimberleyspecialists.com/birdsKachana.html


More Info Sites:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Rosella