Crimson Rosella
Crimson Rosella ( Platycercus elegans ), male
The Crimson Rosella ( Platycercus elegans ) is a species of bird in the family of authentics parrots ( Psittacidae ). Some authors also very similar Adelaidesittich sometimes even the predominantly straw- yellow colored straw Parakeet ( platycercus flaveolus ) are ( platycercus adel aidae ), placed as subspecies of Crimson Rosella.
Appearance
Pennant Parrots are long-tailed parrots with a body length of up to 36 centimeters in length and 110 to 170 grams of weight. Males are slightly larger than females. All three subspecies are predominantly scarlet colored, with blue cheek patches and tail feathers, black wings with blue outer webs and light blue wing leading edges. The feathers on the shoulders and upper back is black with red feather hems. The upper beak is pale whitish to yellowish, the lower mandible dark gray. At the Grand Crimson Rosella ( P. elegans e ) the young birds are covered with feathers for the time being predominantly green, with red coloring only on the lower abdomen, upper chest and forehead and blue coloring at the same locations as in adults. You get only after about 14 months, the adult dress. The dark red-colored Little Crimson Rosella ( P. nigrescens e ) is significantly smaller with 110 to 120 grams of weight. His young birds are red from the start. The third subspecies of the North - Crimson Rosella ( P. e melanoptera ) can be distinguished, which appears darker red Federsäume by narrower at the back. In addition, he is very similar to the Great Crimson Rosella. In captivity, many color varieties have been bred.
Dissemination
The species occurs in the high rainfall areas in the east of Australia. The Great Crimson Rosella inhabited the south-eastern Queensland, eastern New South Wales, Victoria and the southeastern corner of South Australia. Naturalized deposits are found north in New Zealand and Norfolk Island from it. The Little Crimson Rosella lives further north between Cooktown north of Cairns and Mackay in a coastal area in the east of Queensland. The North - Crimson Rosella has the smallest area of distribution. It is found only on Kangaroo Island off the coast of South Australia.
The Crimson Rosella applies IUCN as a common and not endangered.
Habitat
The Crimson Rosella inhabits relatively moist forests, as coastal mountain forests, up to 2000 meters altitude. He also visited forest edges, open woodlands, and even cultivated land and parks in cities.
Diet and lifestyle
The birds live in pairs or small groups, only young birds will also respond to larger swarms. They are fairly sedentary, nomadic only in winter the birds in a wider area around. Their flight is undulating and they fly, usually in a low height. Pennant parakeets looking for food both on the ground and in trees. They feed primarily on seeds and fruits, for example, they use often in orchards on stone and pome fruit. In particularly high extent they also eat insect larvae. This can account for up to half of the daily amount of feed depending on the season. The birds can be 20 to 25 years old.
Voice
The voice is assessed differently, the opinions range from " is quite pleasant and not very loud " to " intolerable and indoors unbearable ". While foraging they give a faint chirping of itself. Only the alarm call, a metallic " kwiik - kwiik " is a little louder. The voice is like the splendor of the Rosella 's.
Reproduction
The breeding season occurs from September to January. During mating, the male sits with slightly open wings next to the female, weighs the range of tail back and forth and suffer from a persistent chatter of itself. Pennant parakeets nest in tree cavities. The female incubates alone almost three weeks three to eight eggs and is fed by the male during this time outside the breeding cave. In the first few days after hatching, the female feeds the boy alone, later also the male involved. After about five weeks, the young birds fledge.
More information
The Crimson Rosella is - probably because of its striking coloration - a popular pet. However, it should always come in pairs and in a sufficiently large aviary ( at least 6 feet in length) are held. Since it is quite hardy and very weather resistant, it is also suitable for beginners in aviculture.