Rosella

About the species

The rosella (genus Platycercus) is the common name for a group of vividly colored parrots found only in Australia, belonging to the so-called broad-tailed parrots – the genus name literally means "flat-tailed". In the wild they inhabit eucalypt forests, coastal woodland, parks, farmland edges and even urban gardens, where they are often seen in pairs or small flocks foraging on the ground or in the tree canopy. Among exotic-bird enthusiasts they are extremely popular for their contrasting, multicolored plumage, while their temperament – independent, curious and fairly reserved about physical contact with people – has surprised many new owners.

A genus of many faces: the diversity of color patterns

The World Parrot Trust describes the genus Platycercus as comprising six species and nineteen subspecies; some taxonomists, who treat certain subspecies as full species, recognize as many as eight. All share a distinctive "block" coloration, with the head, breast, back and wings often painted in completely separate, sharply contrasting color fields, and a characteristic dark, scalloped feather pattern across the back and mantle. The Eastern Rosella (Platycercus eximius) has a bright red head, white cheeks and a pale green belly; the Crimson Rosella (P. elegans) is deep red with blue-purple cheek patches; and the Pale-headed Rosella (P. adscitus) has a pale yellow-to-white head contrasting with blue underparts. This sheer variety of color is why rosellas are considered one of the most photogenic groups of Australian parrots.

Origin and habitat

All species and subspecies in the genus Platycercus are native to Australia, where individual populations occupy very different parts of the continent – from south-western Australia, home to the Western Rosella, across the east coast and Tasmania, home to the Eastern, Crimson and Green Rosellas, to the north of the continent, home to the Northern Rosella. In the wild they feed mainly on eucalypt and acacia seeds, grass seeds, berries and flower buds, foraging both in the canopy and on the ground. In captivity they are fairly common aviary birds throughout Europe, as they tolerate a temperate climate well provided they have dry shelter from cold, wind and rain.

Temperament: active, but not (especially) cuddly

Despite its striking looks, the rosella is not a typical "cuddly" companion parrot. Aviculture Hub, an Australian breeder resource, notes of the Eastern Rosella that such birds "generally don't make great pets, even when hand-raised", as they "don't appear to enjoy human contact and are known to occasionally bite". Rosellas are, in other words, independent, curious and intelligent, but they often avoid touching and petting, even though they can learn to perch on a shoulder. They are not strong talkers, but they are skilled whistlers that can pick up simple tunes. Prospective owners deserve an honest heads-up: a rosella is happiest as an active, visually striking aviary bird, not as a hands-on companion.

Relations with other birds: territoriality and aggression

Rosellas are known for pronounced territoriality toward other birds – including their own kind outside an established breeding pair. The Aviculture Hub source specifically recommends housing Eastern Rosellas "only in single-pair aviaries" and warns that rosellas will hybridize with several other Australian parrot species, which threatens breeding-line purity. Similarly, the World Parrot Trust recommends not housing Pale-headed Rosellas together with other rosellas. As a result, the rosella is not a suitable choice for a mixed aviary or shared housing with other bird species – it does best alone or in an established pair.

Housing and flight space

Rosellas are persistent fliers and therefore need a spacious aviary – sources recommend a length of at least 3 to 5 metres. Because they like to chew wood, a metal-framed enclosure is advisable, and a concrete floor makes cleaning easier. Where an aviary sits next to another, double wiring between them prevents injuries from fighting through the mesh.

Diet and everyday care

In captivity they need a varied diet: a mix of smaller seeds (such as millet, oats and safflower), sprouted legumes, fresh vegetables (carrot, corn, beans), fruit and nuts, ideally supplemented with quality pelleted feed for nutritional balance. Feather and beak care is relatively undemanding, as rosellas are tidy birds that groom themselves well. However, because rosellas like to forage on the aviary floor, regular cleaning of the enclosure and substrate is essential to prevent fungal infections and internal parasites, to which they are somewhat more prone than some other parrot species.

Health: susceptibility to PBFD

Like other Australian parrots, rosellas are susceptible to psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD), caused by a highly stable circovirus. According to the veterinary network VCA Animal Hospitals, African, Australian and Asian parrot species are considerably more susceptible to the virus than Neotropical species, and the disease causes beak deformities and abnormal feather development for which there is currently no cure. Before introducing a new bird into an existing group, veterinary screening or testing is therefore advisable, and any infected bird should be consistently isolated from other parrots.

Pros & cons