Pale-headed Rosella

The Pale-headed Rosella, Platycercus adscitus, is a broad-tailed parrot native to north-eastern Australia. This moderate-sized bird is adorned with a pale yellow head, predominantly white cheeks, and a scalloped black and gold back. Its underparts are a soft pale blue, creating a striking contrast with the vivid colours above.

Identification Tips

Adult Pale-headed Rosellas measure approximately 33 cm in length, including a 15 cm tail. They exhibit a pale cream-yellow head and upper breast, with a blue-black and green tail, and a blood-red vent. The black-edged feathers on the nape, scapulars, and back are highlighted with bright yellow, giving a scalloped appearance. The cheeks of the southern subspecies are entirely white, while the northern subspecies, known as the blue-cheeked rosella, has cheeks flushed with blue. Both sexes appear similar, though females may be slightly smaller and less vibrant.

Habitat

These birds favour open woodlands but have shown remarkable adaptability to human-altered landscapes. They can thrive in rural settings and may frequent orchards and crop fields.

Distribution

The Pale-headed Rosella's range extends from the Cape York Peninsula in the north to central-northern Queensland and further south into north-eastern New South Wales. It is a common sight within this range.

Behaviour

Pale-headed Rosellas are known to nest in hollows of large trees, sometimes even below ground level. They are hardy birds that have also adapted well to aviculture.

Breeding

Breeding seasons vary by region, with southern birds breeding from September to December and northern birds from February to June. They typically lay one brood and clutches usually consist of five to six white, slightly shiny eggs.

Similar Species

The Pale-headed Rosella may be confused with the Eastern Rosella where their ranges overlap, but hybrids have been noted in these areas.

Diet and Feeding

Their diet consists of seeds and fruits from various trees and plants, including river red-gum, river she-oak, snow-in-summer, and rough cockleburr. They also feed on seeds from the introduced Scotch thistle.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List classifies the Pale-headed Rosella as Least Concern, indicating a stable population without significant threats to its survival.