Pale-headed Rosella

Platycercus adscitus

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Quick facts

Size: Averages 30 cm long including long tail, 95 g.

Range and lifestyle: Found throughout most of Queensland except far inland, but also the northern edge of NSW.

Food: Mainly seeds and fruit.

Breeding: The 5-6 shiny, white rounded eggs are laid inside tree hollows or hollow stumps. The female incubates the eggs alone for 19-20 days while the male brings her food.

These rather shy pretty parrots are almost endemic to Queensland, replacing the Eastern Rosella of New South Wales and Victoria.
They feed on the seeds of trees and grasses, sometimes on the sides of roads.
Though comparable in size with Rainbow Lorikeets, they rarely travel in flocks and are usually seen in pairs or in small family groups.
In some areas, Rosellas have to compete for nest hollows with Common Mynas which were introduced to Australia many years ago.