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Today on Animal Fact Files we’re discussing rosellas. These colorful birds are parrots. There are about half a dozen living rosella species, but their classification is in flux. New information could reveal fewer or more species, similar to the galapagos tortoises we’ve previously discussed. The name ‘rosella’ is shortened from Rose Hill parrot - Rose Hill being where they were first observed and named by colonizers. Australian natives were likely well aware of them beforehand, because they’re not conspicuous birds! The rosella genus name means “broad tail” and is in reference to the long, broad tail which helps distinguish these parrots from other parrot species. Not that this is their only defining characteristic; these birds are unique.

Rosellas come in red, blue, green, yellow, and more. The feathers along their back have a fan-shaped pattern, and they have brightly colored cheek patches. They average about a foot (30.5cm) in length, landing them with the title of ‘medium-sized parrots’. There is little sexual dimorphism among the rosella species, though juveniles can appear more green than their parents.

These birds are native to Australia. This includes Tasmania where the green rosella, the largest of the known species, is endemic - it’s only found there! Rosellas have also been introduced to New Zealand and other nearby islands. These parrots live in forested habitats from rainforests to coastal swamps. They also hang out in gardens and agricultural fields which could be seen as a bit of a problem depending on the beholder. While rosellas are generally considered some of the prettiest birds, they’re also called pests.

The target of shootings when their eating habits get out of hand, rosellas will readily dine on a farmer’s harvest of apples or cherries if given the opportunity. These birds eat fruit and seeds. Most often they’re found feeding from the ground, collecting whatever tasty treats they find there. They also perch on tufts of grass to grab the seeds there. Rosellas eat with their feet! Outside of the breeding season, these birds forage in flocks, sometimes including individuals of other rosella species.The juveniles form their own aggregations, and are more often seen on forest edges in larger groups numbering up to twenty! 

Rosellas breed from spring to summer. They leave behind the group and form monogamous pairs for at least a single breeding season. These parrots nest in tree cavities along with other available holes. They’ve even been found nesting in abandoned rabbit burrows! Their necessity for nesting cavities places them in direct competition with other cavity nesting species, such as the various arboreal marsupials living in Australia’s forest habitats. These mammals not only compete for places to give birth but may also eat rosella eggs and chicks!

Rosella females lay an egg every two days until there are approximately five or six in the nest. The lady does all the incubating, but her man brings her food during the entire process. It takes about three weeks for the chicks to hatch and they hatch like they were born, asynchronously, so it can take up to a week before all the chicks pop out of their shells. After about five weeks, the babies are ready to leave the nest, and they’re ready to have their own offspring by the mating season the following year. If they can manage to survive to adulthood, and can avoid predators like falcons, goshawks, owls, and introduced animals like foxes and cats, rosella parrots can live to be more than twenty years old!

Fascinatingly, one of the greatest threats are each other! Female rosellas attack and destroy the eggs of neighboring nests. It’s believed this behavior leads to more available nesting sites for her own children, but this isn’t conclusive. As their name would suggest, these birds can parrot human speech and even learn melodies!

For more facts on rosellas, check out the links below. Give a thumbs up if you learned something new today. Thank you to our Patrons SpikeSpiegel93, Dad, and everyone else for their support of this channel! And thank you for watching Animal Fact Files!